A Fairy Tale Gathering™ was created to introduce young audiences to the joy of dance through storytelling, music, and movement. Created and choreographed by Co-Founder Emily Hartka, a graduate of E.C. Glass High School and the Virginia School of the Arts, as part of her thesis work at the University of Virginia, the ballet premiered in 2010. It has since become a staple of Charlottesville Ballet’s educational repertoire, touring throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia with performances for schoolchildren and in theaters in Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Culpeper, Louisa, Richmond, and Fairfax.

Designed especially for children ages 3–10, this 45-minute, family-friendly performance brings together favorite fairy tale characters “imported” from their full-length classical ballets and set to a lively collage of music by composers such as Tchaikovsky, Delibes, and Prokofiev, as well as famous opera scores—offering a playful introduction to ballet’s rich artistic traditions.

Most importantly, this is an interactive experience. Families are invited to laugh, clap, and even sing along—you are special guests at the Fairy Godmother’s tea party! Along the way, you’ll learn basic ballet steps and French terms and discover that the theater is a joyful, welcoming place to imagine, move, and enjoy dance together.