Dancing snowflakes will spin and twirl when Bainbridge Dance Center and Bainbridge Performing Arts join forces to present “The Snow Queen” Nov 30.

The show, an original adaptation by director Steven Fogell of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, melds dance and drama in the first full production of BPA’s 2001-2002 season.

“The Snow Queen” marks more than the first BDC/BPA collaboration.

It is also BPA’s first holiday season show to present original material rather than a proven crowd-pleaser.

“We’ve got to take risks sometimes,” BPA managing director Joanne Ellis said. “We need to challenge ourselves in order to grow.”

“The Snow Queen,” featuring the beloved fairy tale embellished with classical ballet and contemporary dance set to Vivaldi’s dramatic music, seems likely to delight audiences.

Penned by Hans Christian Andersen in 1895, the story outlines the quest by heroine Gerda to rescue love interest Kay from the icy Snow Queen.

When slivers from a mirror crafted by an evil goblin enter the eye and heart of Kay, he sees only the worst in people and loses the ability to love.

His lack of feeling leaves him vulnerable to the Snow Queen.

“She’s beautiful but cold,” heroine Gerda’s grandmother says, describing the Snow Queen. “She has no feelings… she’s winter in all her beauty and danger.”

The Snow Queen spirits Kay away to her icy Lapland palace, and Gerda sets out to find him, encountering misadventures that include being carried off by boat and being held captive in a witch’s cottage.

Magical flowers and animal come to her aid, directing her to the queen’s palace.

Classic fairy tale elements that include sending the protagonist on a journey-quest delineate Andersen’s subtext of reason at odds with emotion. Fogell, like Andersen, gives human warmth the edge over cleverness and logic.

For the BPA production of “The Snow Queen,” Susan Thompson, with BDC staff Sheri Farnsworth and Rain Ross, choreographed four original dances for ten advanced students.

The students started learning the dances last August in a two-week workshop that met five hours a day for two weeks.

“Usually a little dancing would be added to a play,” Thompson said. “Choreographing four original works that are so well-rehearsed is highly unusual. The students have worked very hard.”

Thompson has been diligent as well; she stars in the title role.

“Choreographing and dancing in the same production is a lot; it’s a little bit nutty,” Thompson admits.

The play has made Thompson stretch even further, since playing the Snow Queen marks her acting debut.

“All I could think was, ‘I have words – oh no!’” Thompson said.

Thompson’s 10 advanced ballet students in “Snow Queen” must act, as well. Vanessa Toglia, a Bainbridge High School freshman who started at Dance Center when she was four, says that dancing and acting the roles of flower, snow creature and villager was a challenge.

“Steven Fogell kept saying, ‘These flowers are unusual – they have feelings,’” Toglia said, “but until we put the whole scene together, we didn’t really understand.”

Fogell, too, wears several hats, not only adapting and directing the work, but designing sets and building the life-size puppets that also “star” in the play.

Assistant director Shannon Sheehan plays the hindquarters of one Fogell puppet, Sagan the reindeer.

“I describe my part as the north end of a south-facing reindeer,” Sheehan said. “I was modeling the costume so Steven could stick the tail on, and he said, ‘Oh, why don’t you just play the part.’

“Going from being Adelaide in “Guys and Dolls” to this is really different. This is the first non-speaking role I’ve ever had.”

Sheehan says that she and Guy Sidora, who plays Sagan’s front half, got in sync by strolling the Playhouse lobby.

“Guy is so funny; I’m laughing the whole time,” Sheehan said.

Thompson believes that the joint venture between Bainbridge Performing Arts and the Dance Center reflects the current trend of blurring lines between theater, dance, music and even circus.

“We, both performers and audience, all learn so much when we are inspired, challenged and encouraged to move in new directions,” Thompson said. “The Snow Queen” does all that.

“Besides, I really like it that the girl gets to rescue the boy.”

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Bainbridge Dance Center and Bainbridge Performing Arts present Steven Fogell’s original adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen” Nov. 30 -Dec. 15 at the Playhouse.

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $21 for adults, $17 for seniors and students. A special “pay as you can” performance will be held Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Call 842-8569 or visit the BPA Box Office for tickets and further information.