"The Golden Bough: A Fairytale Ballet for Children" Book and DVD/CD Set.

Hardcover. Illustrated in color. 34 pages.

Comes with CD narration with music from the ballet and a DVD of the complete full-length ballet (90 minutes).

$35 (USD), plus shipping.

Synopsis of
“The Golden Bough, A Fairytale Ballet”

Like all fairy tales, this one takes place in the “Once upon a time. . .” A little girl, moved by curiosity and pity, frees a magical golden bird from its imprisonment in a golden cage. Twice more, in the midst of a swirling snowstorm and when monsters attack, the girl comes to the rescue of the bird. After each rescue, the bird promises to repay the debt someday. That day comes when the girl is faced with the challenges of a new school. She is tormented by bullies, confronts a cheating student, and is confused by her lessons. With the help of the golden bird, who gives her a pair of magic shoes, the little girl finds her way through the difficulties and discovers that a miracle has occurred. . .

The story of “The Golden Bough, A Fairytale Ballet” is especially empowering for young girls, but it is really the tale of all “little girls” — all women , and indeed all who struggle to live more creatively and authentically. It is a mythical roadmap, with guideposts along the way of what we can expect to encounter when we dare to venture out of our sameness, go against what is “normal” for us, and step out of our comfortable “village” mentality. In the way of all fairy tales, it depicts the tasks and difficulties that will almost certainly confront us, and the challenges that will be levied against our heart, our will, our spirit, our intelligence and our adaptability. The final chapter/scene of “The Golden Bough, A Fairytale Ballet” shows us that the end goal of our lives and the means by which we are sustained in the struggle are one: compassion.