Pirouettes at the pavilion

Louisa Melcher, 11, can hardly contain her excitement as she explains her upcoming role as the Orange Page in Joffrey Ballet’s production of “Cinderella,” which makes its West Coast debut at the Los Angeles Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion from Thursday to Jan. 31.

Last week, in the beginning stages of a two-week intensive rehearsal schedule, the Burbank resident chattered excitedly about the upcoming performance. Hardly taking a breath, Louisa explained that for her role she would get to interact onstage with two principal dancers. In less than two weeks she would be prancing around the stage, hand in hand with Cinderella and the Prince.

“That is going to be really amazing when I actually get to do that onstage,” Louisa said.

Louisa has been taking ballet lessons since she learned to walk, she said.

“She didn’t start walking until 14 months, and not long after that she was in a leotard and tights,” said her mother, Amanda Biers-Melcher.

When Louisa was a toddler, her mother signed the two up for a mommy-and-me class, and she has been dancing ever since. She takes classes six days a week at Anna Cheselka School of Ballet in Studio City with Julia Bourlina, a former dancer with Russia’s Kirov Ballet company, and with Sarah Tayir, a former dancer with the American Ballet Theater.

“When she is dancing, her face just lights up with joy,” said Tayir, who has been teaching Louisa since she was 5 or 6. “She makes you inspired as a teacher because she is so eager to learn.”

Louisa auditioned for the part Jan. 10 at the Colburn School, a performing arts school in Los Angeles. Louisa’s attentiveness, willingness and cheerful attitude helped her to be chosen for the part of the Orange Page, Tayir said.

“She’s the hardest-working little girl I’ve ever had,” she said.

Louisa fit Joffrey’s strict requirements for height and look, had the technical ability and came off as professional, said Ina Haybaeck-Rogers, a representative for the Music Center in charge of auditions, casting and rehearsing of the ballet’s dancers before Joffrey Ballet arrived.

“I’m very glad I chose her,” she said. “She is obviously a talented young lady. She is courteous, humble and a hard worker.”

This is not the first time the young ballerina has danced in a professional show. In December 2008, Louisa landed the role as a party girl with the Kirov Ballet in its production of “The Nutcracker,” at the Los Angeles Music Center.

While this part was technically more difficult, Louisa’s new role in “Cinderella” allows her more time onstage, Biers-Melcher said.

Louisa is excited that this time around the dance company speaks English.

“At the Kirov no one spoke English, so you couldn’t tell if they were yelling at you or praising you,” Louisa said.

But during that time, she did learn to count to four in Russian, she said.

When she isn’t at ballet class or demanding rehearsals, Louisa stays busy with homework — she’s a straight-A student — with playing piano, reading or doing community service. Once or twice a month the Immaculate Heart Middle School sixth-grader picks bouquets from her backyard and sells them outside Porto’s Bakery in Burbank to raise money for the Good Shepherd Shelter in Los Angeles.

The last time she worked 19 hours and earned $202.25 for the women’s shelter, she said.

Louisa is also an accomplished junior golfer, winning second place in the U.S. Kids Golf Los Angeles Local Tour last summer. She frequents DeBell Golf Course in Burbank, Biers-Melcher said.

“A desire for perfection and precision run through golf and ballet,” said Biers-Melcher, describing her daughter as “very disciplined.”

As for what she wants to do when she grows up, Louisa said it changes “every five seconds.” However, she said she knows that her future will include dancing in some way.

“It’s fun; you can express your feelings and always improve your skills,” Louisa said. “It’s so exhilarating when you’re on the stage with all these awesome dancers — you realize why you’ve been training every day.”