NGSB Presents: Night at the Museum: A Special Interview with Miss Bethany, by Our Senior Company Dancers

As excitement builds for NGSB’s spring performance of Night at the Museum, our Senior Company dancers talked with Miss Bethany to get a behind-the-scenes look at this imaginative and dazzling production. From inspiration to choreography challenges, here’s what she had to say!

 What was the inspiration for the show?

“I’ve always been deeply inspired by art, history, and museums—not just for their beauty, but for the stories they hold. When you walk through a museum, every painting, sculpture, and exhibit represents a moment in time, a feeling, or a piece of someone’s life. I started imagining what it would be like if those stories didn’t just sit quietly on the walls or pedestals—but actually came to life. That idea felt so natural for dance, because dance is storytelling through movement. Pieces like The Starry Night or the dancers in Edgar Degas’ artwork already feel like they’re moving—you can almost see the motion, the emotion, the energy within them. Bringing that to the stage allows us to expand on those stories and imagine what happens beyond the frame.

I was also inspired by how diverse museums are. You can step from classical art into history, into fashion, into cultural exhibits—all in one place. That gave us the opportunity to create a show with so much variety in music, choreography, and characters. It allows every dancer to explore different styles and really step into a role. At its heart, the inspiration came from this idea of curiosity and imagination—what if, after the doors close and the lights go out, everything begins to move, to dance, to tell its story? That sense of magic is what we’re bringing to life on stage.”

 How did you decide what exhibits to include?

“We wanted a variety, so we chose a diverse mix of famous works of modern and classical art, along with different areas of natural history, cultural exhibits, and ancient history, fashion, and more.

I’m especially excited about our ‘History of Ballet’ exhibit, which highlights a few important figures in the world of ballet, like King Louis XIV, Marie Taglioni, Anna Pavlova, and Misty Copeland. Seeing these dances portrayed back-to-back will let the audience quickly see the story of ballet and how it has become what it is today.

I also love the idea of statues like The Thinker and Winged Victory of Samothrace coming to life. Plus, famous historical figures like Amelia Earhart and Joan of Arc will appear—it’s such a fun mix! You might even see an attempted museum heist by one of our hip hop classes!”

 Does the ballet follow the movie?

“Not really. The movie Night at the Museum is more of an inspiration—especially for the concept of art coming to life. Our storyline and choreography are completely original. We chose this ballet specifically to showcase all of our dancers, but especially our graduating seniors Janie and Cassandra, and to highlight their unique and versatile dance qualities.”

 Is this ballet different from past performances? What makes it different?

“Yes! Last year’s Sleeping Beauty was very classical and serious. This show is full of sparkly, shiny choreography, sequined costumes, flashy characters, and a highly diverse repertoire. It has a lot more humor and glamour woven throughout.

The range required by our Company dancers in this show is incredible. They perform everything from very classical ballet to unique contemporary work, to flashy tap pieces, to character-driven hip hop dances. There is so much required acting and character portrayal in this show, in addition to the dancing. The dancers have done a fantastic job rising to the challenge!”

 What has been the most fun to choreograph?

“The scene towards the beginning where all the characters first come to life and sneak up on the new night guard—played by Senior Company dancer Janie—has been the most fun. There’s so much personality, humor, and surprise in that moment!”

What piece has been the most challenging?

“Probably the fossil/dinosaur piece! It’s been such a fun challenge between the costuming and choreography. It’s definitely one of the most unique parts of the show, and I think audiences are going to love it.”

 What’s the most difficult part of putting together a big performance like this?

“There are so many moving parts. Coordinating dancers, teachers, sets, props, rehearsal schedules, show orders, cast lists, ticketing, marketing, communication, and all the technical theater elements—it’s a lot!

Plus, costuming is a huge endeavor in and of itself. With over 750 costumes appearing on stage, a lot of time goes into it. Choosing costumes, measuring dancers, ordering or designing the costumes, altering and fitting costumes, steaming the wrinkles out, bedazzling or updating, plus choosing/ordering/making matching headpieces for each costume, and then, of course, there is the huge task of organizing each and every costume.

On top of that, making sure every dancer is appropriately challenged, choosing/editing/compiling music, creating original choreography, organizing dress rehearsals, theater schedules, and photography… the list goes on. But it’s all worth it when it comes together on stage.”

 Why is this 15th year of NGSB so special to you?

“I’m just so incredibly proud of our studio, teachers, and our students. We’ve grown so much over the years, but we’ve still maintained that close, family feel, which means everything to me. Dance and performance have such a powerful impact on the lives of everyone involved, and it’s been so special to watch that over time. One of my favorite things is seeing dancers who started 10 years ago as tiny little ballerinas now performing lead roles on stage. That full-circle moment is truly unforgettable.”

 We Can’t Wait!

A huge thank you to our Senior Company dancers for asking questions to share a glimpse into the creativity and heart behind Night at the Museum. We are so excited to see these masterpieces, historical figures, and imaginative scenes come to life! Stay tuned for more sneak peeks—and get ready for a performance full of art, history, humor, and sparkle! 

Tickets are still available: www.ngaschoolofballet.com