Rodeo, a ballet composed by Aaron Copland, will be performed by Blue Heron dancers at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 7 and 8, and 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 8 and 9, at Vashon High School Theater.

Christine Juarez, who directs Blue Heron Dance, is excited about the upcoming performances.

“The ambience will be wild west,” she said.

“Rodeo” brings a pioneer town to life, with modern dancers playing tumbleweeds, dirt devils and a travelling medicine show. Ballet dancers will play wranglers, city girls, exuberant Mexican dancers and boot-stomping Western teens.

Principal dancers include Trudy Soriano and Camille Kappelman. Cornish College students Brent Kehoe and Julian Lightle will also dance in the ballet.

Juarez said she is glad that so many boys are part of the Blue Heron Dance company.

“Our boys’ class has grown to eight male dancers ages 9 to 13,” she said.

The performances will also feature original works choreographed by Blue Heron’s advanced students.

Tiny dancers ages 2 to 6 will appear in a piece based on “Norwegian Dances” by Edward Grieg.

A one-hour version of the show, designed for preschoolers, will take place at 3:30 p.m. Friday, May 7. Admission to that show is $5 per person. Tickets to all other performances are $10 to $13 and are for sale at Blue Heron, Heron’s Nest and Books by the Way.