THEATRE REVIEW
Little Women Ballet (Photo – Edie Tyebkhan Photography)
I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship.”
~ Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
On the subject of women, little or large, it’s nearly impossible to deny them as symbols of perseverance and nurturance. In Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, these qualities take form in the strong-willed Jo, the gentle Beth, and even in the inanimate: the March family home, filled with warmth and care.
By Natalia Rose
Many of us encountered this 19th-century New England tale in school, but for those unfamiliar with the book, or without sisters of their own, the Little Women Ballet brings its timeless themes of love, loss, and personal growth to life.
Choreographed and devised by 25-year-old Emma Andres, this ballet has appeared both as an immersive experience at Heritage Square Museum and as a full-length production at the Pasadena Playhouse. In either format, Emma proves herself a blooming all-star of her craft. A 2019 BFA graduate in Dance Choreography from UC Irvine, she now serves as their Dance Department Analyst while continuing to create original, character-driven work like this.
Emma’s Little Women embraces the grace and rigor of classical ballet, signified by flowing port de bras, pointe work, and upright posture. The aesthetic is elegant, but it’s the casting that truly sets the piece apart. Emma assembled a diverse group of dancers, some as young as 7, others as old as 74, adding layers of texture and lived experience to each role.
Among the standout performers: Rebekah Tkach (Meg) brought poise and lyricism to every movement; Evan Hernandez (Ned Moffat) offered flips and turns worthy of Cirque du Soleil; and Denise Moses delivered sharp comedic timing as Aunt March. Youth performers David Gerdeman (Demi Brooke) and Charlotte Orlando (Little Amy) also left a strong impression.
When adapting such a beloved story, the most effective design elements are often the simplest. In this case, Ross Clark’s projection design stole the show. A large backdrop transformed into shifting hand-drawn landscapes of the March world. blurring the line between Jo writing her novel and the sisters living its events. The March house faded in and out of view like a memory being recalled, guiding the audience through time and imagination.
This two-act ballet offers a promising glimpse of what Emma Andres and Artist Plus Productions are capable of. Still, I’d urge future audiences to experience the immersive version, where you can see the sisters up close within historic preserved homes. There, the emotional resonance of Little Women deepens, reminding us that home isn’t just a place, but the people and memories that shape it.
Little Women is far from a little story. In Emma Andres’s hands, it becomes a time capsule of what it means to have a home, or to lose one.
> The full-length original classical ballet Little Women was performed at the Pasadena Playhouse on June 21–22, 2025.
Little Women Ballet (Photo – Edie Tyebkhan Photography)
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