Local dance instructors perform in ‘Legally Blonde’

Dance Etc. teachers Sarah Vanetti, 20, and Jayme Server, 21, began performing in Super Summer Theatre’s production of “Legally Blonde the Musical” Aug. 7. Super Summer Theatre is an outdoor theater venue in Spring Mountain Ranch State Park.

“It’s a pretty drive, but it’s far,” Vanetti said, as the dancers must commute approximately 30 miles from Boulder City to perform in the two-hour show from Wednesday to Saturday.

According to the theater’s website, supersummertheatre.com, “Super Summer Theatre is committed to promote the use of Nevada state parks by providing the community with quality family-oriented and affordable entertainment ‘under the stars.’ ” The outdoor theater seats 1,100 guests.

In addition to “Legally Blonde,” the summer-long lineup for 2013 included “The Music Man” and “How to Succeed in Business Without Trying.” “The Producers” will be performed Sept. 5-21.

The dancers auditioned for the production of “Legally Blonde” in May.

“I found the audition online,” Server said. “I thought it would be great because I love musicals. That’s what I would love to do with my life, is musicals. We went to the audition in May and we got a callback a week later. It was the Wednesday of rehearsal week of our June show when I got the call from the producer, and Sarah got the call immediately after I did saying we had gotten the positions.”

Server and Vanetti have both been dancing for 18 years and began teaching at Dance Etc. three years ago. Server teaches first-grade ballet and tap, and Vanetti has assisted lyrical classes and works full time as the studio’s receptionist.

“It is a fun, spontaneous, crazy production of the movie ‘Legally Blonde,’ ” Server said. “I think it’s the movie times ten. It’s a blast. It’s something anyone can watch, even if you don’t like musicals.”

“You laugh, you cry,” Vanetti said. “It’s like a roller coaster, plus it’s family friendly.”

Although Server plans to continue with musical theater in her future dancing profession, Vanetti had never planned on performing in the genre. “I never liked musical theater,” Vanetti said. “But Jayme was like ‘let’s just go for fun,’ and it really was so much fun.”

Vanetti is thankful that she auditioned for the role as it has helped her tremendously in her dancing. “I definitely think I’ve grown from doing this, because I never would have had an interest in it. I owe a lot of that to Jayme since she dragged me along to do it,” she said laughing.

The two dancers perform in the production’s ensembles. “We are ensemble, so we are basically in every dance number,” Vanetti said. “We are the sorority girls, we are in every chorus, we are the main character’s conscious. I get called a heifer, too.”

Server has a single line in the production and a solo singing piece. “I play a cashier where I get to say a line and sing and dance.”

The live production of “Legally Blonde” features singers, dancers and musicians. “It’s nerve-wracking when you go back stage and your mic is on,” Server said.

“You have to be super silent,” Vanetti added.

Each dancer performs almost nonstop throughout the entire production. “It goes by pretty fast when we are back there though because we are in every other number,” Vanetti said. “Then we go home, eat and pass out.”

The Dance Etc. teachers see no conflict working at the studio and performing for “Legally Blonde” since the production lasts only three weeks. “Right now I teach until 5:15,” Server said. “And we leave directly from the studio to the show. It ended up working out really well with our schedules.”

Anna Lawson, owner of Dance Etc., and the other teachers are very supportive of the opportunity Vanetti and Server have been given. Although the dance season at Dance Etc. has already begun, the studio is willing to work around their rehearsal and show schedules.

“They are so supportive with getting gigs that they would work around our schedule no matter what,” Server said.

The dancers plan to audition for Super Summer Theatre for next year’s lineup.

Tickets are available online for $12 or $20 at the gate. “Legally Blonde the Musical” continues through Saturday.