A holiday tradition in Phoenix is coming to an end.
For the last 29 years, the Center Dance Ensemble has performed its holiday ballet, "The Snow Queen," at the Herberger Theater Center. But last spring, the founder of the dance center and creator of the show passed away.
Frances Smith Cohen died at age 87 and those involved in the show debated if they should continue the production without its creator. They decided to honor her with one last season of "The Snow Queen."
Fran’s daughter, Rachel Cohen, has been the show narrator for years. This year, she also is taking on her mother’s role directing the children.
Cohen said everyone is working hard to honor her mother’s legacy.
“People have been so kind. ... And knowing it’s the last one we want to make it the best one. But we’re going to miss her. There’s a spirit that’s missing, just a little bit. We’re just trying to hold on," she said.
One reason the show is special to so many is because of the generations of people involved.
Like Erica Lizotte, who has been performing in the show for many years. This is her daughter Mia’s first show. She’s playing a snowflake.
Mia said although "The Snow Queen" is the star of the show, she isn’t the protagonist but rather the “bad guy.” Which means Mia’s role as a snowflake could be seen as on “the dark side.”
They are experiencing the first and last show without Fran and said it’s been difficult.
“It’s been a little bit tough, but in honor of her and in honor of the magic, we’re excited for this last run," Lizotte said.
The performance is based on a story by Hans Christian Andersen. It follows a girl who’s trying to find her friend Kai. The Snow Queen was looking in her mirror when she saw a wrinkle. She broke the mirror, which was made of ice, and pierced Kai’s eye and heart. It causes Kai to lose sight of who he loved, so he wanders into the woods where the Snow Queen kidnaps him.
The girl follows Kai through the four seasons as personified by the Snow Queen’s sisters: Summer, Autumn and Spring.
The show is full of fun visuals like Summer’s bright fluffy pants under her huge skirt which are flashed at the audience many times while she dances to convince the girl to stay.
Eventually the girl finds the Snow Queen and her Snow Monster, and they fight. In the end, the Snow Queen melts, and everyone lives happily ever after, except the Snow Queen, of course.
This is the 14th year Amber Robins is playing the Snow Queen.
“I am very, very vain and conceited," Robins said of her character.
Like everyone else, she just wants to make Fran proud of the tradition she started.
“This is kind of her legacy. She loved teaching children, some of the people who are in the company now were children when I first started," Robins said.
Robins and the rest of the ensemble will be performing at the Herberger Theater Center almost every Saturday and Sunday this December. The dance ensemble’s final show will be Dec. 22.
