It's the chance of a lifetime.
At 10 a.m. on Aug. 7 in Eisenhower Auditorium, children ages nine to 12 will have the opportunity to audition to be a part of a performance by RIOULT, a New York City-based modern dance company.
The company features the choreography of Pascal Rioult, who once performed with the legendary Martha Graham Dance Company.
From the audition, 12 children will be selected to perform with the company in its performance of "Small Steps, Tiny Revolutions," said Amy Vashaw, Center for the Performing Arts audience and program development director.
"[The performance] is essentially about a boy who sort of escapes his reality into his own creative, imaginary world where it is a safe place for him to dance because his father is not supportive of him wanting to dance," Vashaw said. "Fantastical creatures captivate the world, and his father comes to look for him and realizes that ultimately it is so important for his son to express himself."
The story behind "Small Steps, Tiny Revolutions" came from the poem by Deborah Sacarakis, who then commissioned the dance, Rioult said.
Vashaw said the children who are selected for the performance will play the fantastical creatures in the boy's dream-like world.
Rioult said that having the children perform alongside the professionals in his company is his favorite part of the piece, in addition to how the father in the story eventually comprehends his son's sense of imagination and movement.
"I love the fact that the kids are creating this imaginary world that only kids can believe is real," Rioult said. "Little children can guide adults in the imagination because as you grow, you get in touch with real things and you lose this ability to dream."
Rioult said throughout the various performances, he has had three fathers come up to him after the show and tell him that they cried because the story was not only touching, but also relatable.
"It's different than 'Billy Elliott'... how the child is actually able to get his father to grow up," he said. "He really helps his father to understand, and I think that is a beautiful lesson."
Aside from the age specification, the only other audition requirement is that the children are "comfortable movers," Vashaw said.
"There's no requirement that they're highly skilled dancers; however, they will be expected to learn choreography," she said.
Vashaw said RIOULT decided to hold auditions because not only does the company need the children for its performance, but it also gives RIOULT the opportunity "to connect to our community in a very meaningful way."
"Small Steps, Tiny Revolutions" will show at 2 p.m. on Oct. 17 in Eisenhower Auditorium. There will also be a performance at 10 a.m. on Oct. 18 for kindergarten through high school students.
The week before the performances, rehearsals will be held for the 12 children, Vashaw said.
But before the audition is actually held, the C. Barton McCann School of Art will host a Dancing with RIOULT Stars program from Aug. 2 to Aug. 6. The cost of the program is $195, and it is for children ages nine to 12, Executive Director Alan Schaffranek said.
Two dancers from RIOULT will teach classes in classic ballet, modern techniques and more, Schaffranek said.
He said the school decided to have the program because it is often seen as solely a visual arts school, but it does offer programs in other forms of art.
"We thought it was an interesting proposal to be able to offer to children to learn from stars and then to audition and be a part of a show in Centre County with some of the world's best dancers," Schaffranek said.
Though auditioning on Aug. 7 is not a requirement for the camp, Schaffranek said it is encouraged.
"We strongly recommend that they do [audition] just because it's going to show off their new abilities," he said.
Schaffranek said the school will also hold a recital at 3 p.m. on the last day of the program to showcase to the students' friends and family all that has been learned.
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