Jaelle Yoder brings the biblical character of Esther to life on the stage, during the Everpraise Dance Company’s production at Airborne Church on April 28. Toni Milbourne

MARTINSBURG — The Everpraise Dance Company brought the biblical book of Esther to life on the stage of Airborne Church for the two nights of April 28 and 29.

The dance company, comprised of nearly 50 dancers from a homeschool co-op membership, performed the show choreographed by instructor Jayme Metzgar. Metzgar, who studied ballet for 10 years at the Loudoun School of Ballet in Leesburg, Va. and performed ballet in her youth, returned to the dance form several years ago, when she took on the challenge of teaching at her Jefferson County-based homeschool co-op.

In directing and choreographing the production this year, Metzgar said she selected many songs for the show which had lyrics straight from the Psalms.

“These are poems which were in existence at the time the events in the book of Esther occurred,” Metzgar said. “I imagine they would have been especially precious to the Jewish people in exile.

“Any time I’ve turned a Bible story into a ballet, it has come alive for me,” Metzgar said.

Members of the Everpraise Dance Company perform a dance together, during their ballet about the biblical account of Esther at Airborne Church on April 28 and 29. Toni Milbourne

The production of “Esther” was a prime example of bringing a story to life, as the dancers clearly portrayed the turmoil of the story: Mordecai raising his orphaned cousin, Esther’s rise to serve as queen of Persia and Esther’s eventual defense of her people.

“I was especially moved by the dance where Esther grows up, which highlights her relationship with Mordecai, her adoptive father,” Metzgar said.

During the first night of the show, the role of Esther was brought to life by Jaelle Yoder, while Ana Graulau danced the role on the second night. Both young women have danced with Everpraise Dance Company for years, and are now in their senior year of high school.

“My favorite feedback has been from the many people who told me they were moved to tears,” Metzgar said. “The scenes with the angels seem to have been especially moving for the audience, as they portrayed God’s unseen presence in the story. Those were the scenes that got me crying, too — it’s always gratifying to know we’ve told a story with the emotional impact we were aiming for.”

The enjoyment of the dance, along with the significant meaning given to the story it portrayed was felt by many.

“The ballet was absolutely beautiful,” said Laura Vocature, whose daughter, Harper, danced in the show.

“All of the students worked so hard all year and their work paid off,” Vocature added commenting that Metzgar did an incredible job of adapting the Biblical account of Esther into the performance.

“Harper is ready to start work on next year’s show,” Vocature laughed.

“I was very pleased with how the show came together, and so proud of all my dancers. They did a beautiful job,” Metzgar said. “It’s a joy to see my vision for a story come to life.”