Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet, under the artistic direction of Jennifer Beasley, will present the full-length ballet Beauty and the Beast at Jackson Academy Performing Arts Center in Jackson at 2 pm on March 21 and 22. The ballet will feature all original choreography, dazzling sets and costumes, and more than 75 dancers from the metro- Jackson area. A special opportunity to meet the cast will be offered at Belle's Tea Party following the March 22 performance.
    Beauty and the Beast, the "tale as old as time", explores the magic that can happen when one looks beneath the surface and finds the powerful nature of love. The ballet was last presented by MMB in 2009, and has since been re-worked to include greater depth to the story of the Prince, the curse that has transformed him into the Beast, and the true love that develops between him and Belle at the enchanted castle. Complete with dancing clocks and candlesticks, enchanted pillows, a Good Fairy, the beautiful Belle, and the Beast trapped under the Evil Fairy's spell, MMB's Beauty and the Beast is sure to delight audiences of all ages.
    Ariel Soto, former dancer with the National Ballet of Cuba, will perform the role of The Beast alongside MMB soloist, Caroline Jones, as Belle. Jones is a senior at Jackson Preparatory School and has trained and danced with MMB for the past ten years. She performed the title role in MMB's production of The Little Mermaid last April. Additional local dancers in the production include Mary Kate Shearer, of Ridgeland, in the role of The Good Fairy; Haley Speights, of Brandon, in the role of The Peacock; Amber Lincoln, of Brandon, as The Bad Fairy; and Lauren Mackey and Taylor Binkley, of Brandon, as The Sisters. Local dancers in the production are members of the Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet and are students in the company's affiliated school, The Mississippi Metropolitan Dance Academy. Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet is a non- profit, pre-professional ballet company that has made its home in Madison for the past 22 years. MMB is the only dance company in Mississippi that is a member of the Southeast Regional Ballet Association, a division of Regional Dance America.
    Belle's Tea Party will follow the Sunday, March 22 performance and will include delectable treats, the chance to meet the dancers and have photos made with them, and the opportunity to visit Belle's wardrobe.

Tickets for "Beauty and the Beast" range in price from $18 to $22 and can be purchased online or by calling (601) 853-4508. Tickets to Belle's Tea Party must be purchased separately and are $25 each.