From the Las Vegas View -  August  8th 2005

By ANGIE PARKINSON

Children will be helping other children tonight and Thursday night as the Fern Adair Conservatory of the Arts presents its annual Concert Fantasy and Fantasy Petite. The dancing extravaganza will feature roughly 1,000 performers and all proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.

Students at a recent rehearsal were excited to dance and to contribute to a great cause.

Stephanie Martin, one of the dancers, said she loves to perform and to watch others perform. It’s a joy to know that money raised at the performance will benefit others, she said.

Renee Warden loves to dance as well and looks forward to the performance.

“It’s just a lot of fun and it’s for a good cause,” Warden said.

From the many volunteers who make the fantasies come to life, to the dancers themselves, there’s a lot of work involved.

“It’s all heart,” Fern Adair, founder of the conservatory, said of the rehearsal process.

The members worked through the dance numbers for the tribute to Jennifer Lopez portion of the Fantasy on Aug. 4. Other parts of the program will pay homage to “The Little Match Girl,” Elton John, Broadway, Mary Poppins, and School House Rock. The numbers will be performed against a backdrop of rear projection video and special effects.

Although the funds raised during Concert Fantasy and Fantasy Petite went to various causes in the early years, for the last 17 years the money has all gone to Make-A-Wish.

Adair said she loves the idea of children helping children. She also said she likes the fact that the organization is run by volunteers, not professionals.

Make-A-Wish Volunteer Management Coordinator Shelle Hedrick said the most popular wishes lately have been room makeovers.

“It makes a lot of sense when you think about it, because for a lot of these kids that’s their one escape,” Hedrick said.

Children have also wished for trips to various destinations and to be a police officer for a day. One wished to be a Ralph Lauren model for a day. There are really no limits to what they can wish for, Hedrick said. She spent a few days with rap star Snoop Dogg about three months ago in order to fulfil the wish of a sick child.

Hedrick said year after year the money raised from the Concert Fantasy and Fantasy Petite provides a major part of her organization’s budget. The conservatory never gives Make-A-Wish less than $20,000 each year.

Hedrick said she really admires what Adair does by teaching young dancers to give through their performance.

“She doesn’t just want to bring up dancers, she wants to bring up people in the community,” Hedrick said.

Concert Fantasy and Fantasy Petite will be held today and Thursday at the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts. Tickets cost $17-$20 and can be purchased by calling 785-5555 or online at www.aladdincasino.com.

To learn more about the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Nevada, visit www.southernnevada.wish.org. For more information about Concert Fantasy and Fantasy Petite, call 458-7575 or go online to www.fernadair.com.