Stoneleigh-Burnham School Advanced Dancers performed an original dance at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Mass. as part of the museum’s recent celebration of the 75th anniversary of the book Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans. SBS dancers were honored by the invitation by the musem to perform the dance, “Madeline,” choreographed by Ann Sorvino, SBS dance teacher and chair of the Performing Arts Department.

In the dance, SBS senior Qianqian Li appeared as Miss Clavell, seventh grader Ellie Flynn was Madeline, seventh grader Beatrice Brynda portrayed the tiger, and tenth grader Star Stryker depicted the doctor. The rest of the group starred as the “twelve little girls in two straight lines.”

Sorvino said she and the dancers were moved to be part of the celebration in honor of Bemelmans.

“The dance performance was approved by the estate of the author,” Sorvino noted. “The students were very excited to be a part of this event.”

SBS is the first and only girls’ school in New England to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, including IB Dance. The academically rigorous, interdisciplinary curriculum equips students with exemplary critical thinking skills, and opens doors for them at universities both in the U.S. and abroad.

Since 1869, Stoneleigh-Burnham School has been preparing girls for college and the world. Stoneleigh-Burnham is an academic community with an international perspective that inspires girls to pursue meaningful lives based on honor, respect and intellectual curiosity.

An open house will be held April 21. For more information, visit sbschool.org.