Mystic Ballet dances "The Little Mermaid"

Now, here's a challenge: dress up as a mermaid ... and then dance.

Not easy to do with that fish tail. Okay, Bette Midler managed to do it in a brilliant comic bit during her concerts, but still.

What brings this to mind: Mystic Ballet is taking on "The Little Mermaid" as part of its Dance Me A Story Family Series.

This adaptation of the Hans Christian Anderson tale - in which mermaid Ariel makes a deal with witch Ursula to lose her voice in order to gain legs - features choreography by Vladimir Putenko, Brian Enos, and Hiroko Maehara.

Starring in the production are Hiroko Maehara as Princess Ariel, Aleksander Subotic as Prince Eric, Alejandro Ulloa Zepeda as King Triton, and Ervin Vallecillo as Sebastian.

"The Little Mermaid" runs an hour and a half, with one permission. There is also a pre-show talk

- KRISTINA DORSEY

"The Little Mermaid," 2 p.m. Saturday and March 23, Mashantucket Pequot Museum Auditorium, 110 Pequot Trail, Mashantucket; Mystic Ballet; $18-$43; (860) 536-3671, mysticballet.org.