By Shannon McMahon

The Columbus Dance Theatre, a professional contemporary ballet company and school, presents its 9th annual production of Matchgirl, a ballet based on the Hans Christian Anderse tale of a girl left to a life of selling matches on the street just to survive. Performances will be held at Otterbein College’s Fritsche Theatre at Cowan Hall on Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 6 at 3 and 8 p.m.

Seventy graceful dancers from all levels of training (professional, apprentice, and children) will light up the stage during the wonderful and imaginative scenes that portray visions that the young matchgirl, played by Gabrielle Barton, experiences. Audiences will be captivated as the dancers perform together through this ballet with a compelling message about the holiday values of charity, forgiveness, and healing in a lonely world.

Tim Veach, Choreographer and Artistic Director for CDT, says the company has found a home for its annual holiday show at Otterbein.

“We have really enjoyed moving the production to Otterbein,” he says. “We feel that the ballet is very well suited to the theatre there.”

CDT employs eight professional dancers and five apprentice dancers. For 11 years, the company has incorporated a wide repertoire of dance with a primary focus on contemporary ballet.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students and are on sale now. For ticket information or additional information about the company, including a schedule of upcoming performances, visit www.coldancetheatre.org.