Around the World in Just One Night

Move over Princess, Carnival, Royal Caribbean. The Civic Ballet Center of Pasadena can circle the world in one evening.

They’ll be “Sailing Around the World” in dance Tuesday and Wednesday night at the San Gabriel Civic Auditorium.

So it takes 200 performers, adults and children, 12 backdrops and tons of costumes. It still costs far less to take this voyage than a five-day trip to Bermuda on Cunard’s QE II.

“The whole trip is danced with four sailors,” said Elly Charlotte Van Dijk, the center’s artistic director. “They sail all around the world.”

The trip starts in New York, then goes to the Caribbean.

Nigeria features a marketplace. Across the continent, in Kenya, there will be an African safari hunt dance.

This cruise even go across the ages to visit ancient Egypt. Try that on Norwegian Cruise Lines.

Back to the present, the next stop is Europe--featuring Spain, a Paris cafe, and a flower dance from Holland, Van Dijk’s native country.

Traditional Danish ballet is also on the itinerary, then dances representing Sweden, Poland, Russia, Israel and Persia.

“We call it Persia because that’s more romantic than Iran,” Van Dijk said.

Young dancers from the Arcadia Chinese School will present a ribbon dance from China, then it’s off to Australia and Antarctica.

“The little ones will be penguins,” Van Dijk said, referring to a dance by 3- to 5-year-olds.

After a classical ballet in the jungles of Ecuador and a Mexican fiesta, “we are back in the United States, doing step aerobics,” Van Dijk said. “You can see everything for the price of $10.”

Or $8 for children. The ship sails promptly at 7:30 p.m. at the auditorium, 320 S. Mission Drive.

Bon voyage.