THOMASVILLE, Ga. — You won’t want to be late for this very important date! Follow Alice as she chases the White Rabbit through the fanciful world of Wonderland. South Georgia Ballet proudly culminates the performances of its 20th Anniversary Season with the Spring Production of “Alice in Wonderland.”

Two graduating seniors — Tori Cordista, a Moultrie resident, and Sophi Sampson — portray the two principal characters in this amusing performance. Annabelle Norman, also a Moultrie resident, will portray the Queen of Hearts.

The theatrical production will feature a mixed genre of ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary and acrobatic dance to entertain and delight the audience as they travel through the whimsical world of Wonderland.

Each season South Georgia Ballet strives to provide patrons captivating performances unlike any in the surrounding area, the company said in a press release: This season is no exception.

“SGB is incorporating advanced technology by coordinating with a projection designer to specially design interactive projections for the audience’s enjoyment,” the press release said. “Amazing sets, quirky costumes and lively choreography make this production enjoyable for the entire family and a date you surely won’t want to miss!”

Several other Moultrie residents and company dancers will also perform in this year’s show, including Mary Cate Bazal, Gabriella Gallagher, Holland Jarvis, Annalia Small, and Sara Strickland.

“This show is a visual delight for all audiences,” said Melissa June, artistic director and outreach education director. “The choreography, costumes, sets and projection design bring this whimsical world to life and will keep the audience in awe of our Wonderland.”

Cordista said, “I would like to thank South Georgia Ballet for everything they have done for me.  They taught me not only how to dance, but also a lot about life and making commitments. I definitely would not be the person that I am today without them. Thank you so much!”

Cordista has been dancing since 2006 and has been a company dancer with SGB since 2010. This year’s performance has a very special meaning for her as her very first company production in 2010 was “Alice in Wonderland” when she was 10 years old.

Some of the lead roles she has portrayed through the years were: Rose Queen, Lead Spanish and Lead Chinese in The Nutcracker and Rufio in Peter Pan. She is graduating as valedictorian from Scholar’s Academy in Thomasville and plans to attend Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, majoring in mechanical engineering followed by a master’s degree in aerospace engineering or a premedical degree.

Join Alice (Tori Cordista) as she enjoys a beautiful afternoon English garden party with her refined sisters and some peculiar guests, but the afternoon soon turns into an inquisitive chase after a frantic white rabbit (Sophi Sampson). Alice follows the hurried rabbit through a hidden rabbit hole, leading her to a mesmerizing warped world of time. As she continues to follow the white rabbit through the door, she finds herself in the enchanting world of Wonderland, in a garden filled with familiar characters such as the Dormouse, Tweedle Twins, Mad Hatter, March Hare, Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat and more.  

The white rabbit dashes off again in a hurry to find the queen. The Cheshire Cat guides Alice on where to find the rabbit. Her journey brings her to a topsy-turvy tea party hosted by the Mad Hatter and the March Hare, where they celebrate Alice’s Un-Birthday. After a rousing tea party, the white rabbit scurries off quickly once again to find the queen but accidentally leaves behind her gloves. Alice promptly picks them up and quickly follows the rabbit to the queen’s garden.

To enter the garden, Alice must play a game of chess but if she makes the wrong move, it’s Off With Her Head! Making it through with the assistance of the White Rabbit, Alice arrives at the Queen of Hearts’ garden. She’s surrounded by cards oddly painting the queen’s roses red, so Alice kindly offers to help. The queen catches her and commands she be sent with the guards to take off her head. The queen’s sister, the White Queen, saves Alice’s life and suggests they play a game of croquet. However, the red queen rigs the game to ensure her victory. Enraged, Alice shouts “That’s not fair!” The red queen, infuriated, orders “Off with her head!” but the Knave speaks up and demands that Alice have a trial before her sentence is completed.

We meet all of Alice’s friends through her course as the jurors devise a plan to help Alice escape the queen’s clutches. Her friends lead her back through the rabbit hole escaping Wonderland. Her exciting and unusual odyssey comes to an end as Alice awakens to realize it was all just a dream.

Please plan to join SGB as they travel through this imaginative adventure with Alice and her friends. “Alice in Wonderland” is scheduled for 7 p.m. June 1 and 2 p.m. June 2 at the Thomasville Municipal Auditorium.

During the week of June 25-29, South Georgia Ballet will host its Summer Camp and Summer Intensive. Young dancers ages 3-7 will enjoy a full week of fun with “Moana,” while learning a variety of dance techniques, participate in crafts and other exciting activities. Dancers ages 8-12 will come alive with a week of dance and entertainment from “The Greatest Showman.”

Older dancers ages 13 and up are encouraged to attend a week of advanced dance technique training with SGB’s H.O.T. Summer Intensive. Renowned instructors and professional performers Francis Veyette and Jennifer and Omar Olivas will offer their experience to assist the serious dancer in advancing their technique. Veyette is a former principal dancer with Pennsylvania Ballet, and is currently on faculty at Miami City Ballet School. Jennifer and Omar Olivas were finalists from the group Diavolo Dance Company, on the popular TV show “America’s Got Talent.”

For ticket information for the spring performance or to register a dancer for the summer camp/summer intensive, visit southgeorgiaballet.org or contact the office at 229-228-9420.