LITERARY LAS VEGAS

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"The Magic Tutu" began as a series of stories Amy Arnaz shared with her daughter Haley and the young dancers in her Boulder City ballet classes.

The stories, many inspired by Haley and her cat Daisy's real-life adventures, became so popular Arnaz was invited to read them at a local elementary school.

Soon, she began turning the tales into original ballets for children to perform at the historic Boulder Theatre, owned by Arnaz and her husband, Desi Arnaz Jr.

Last year, Amy Arnaz teamed up with her friend psychologist Ellen Dickenstein to compile the stories into a book.

The book features a cover drawing by Amy Eschner and is filled with photographs by Andrew Cattoir from a 2004 Boulder City Ballet Company production of a ballet based on the book. Also available at themagictutu.com is a CD featuring Arnaz reading the stories to music, a "The Magic Tutu" T-shirt and a Little Haley doll. Proceeds from the book and merchandise go to support the ballet company Arnaz and her husband founded in 1998.

Excerpt from "The Magic Tutu"

Mommy played a pretty song for the little girls to dance to with their kittens. It was a song about three little words -- I love you. The girls swayed and twirled with their kittens and sang along...

"There's nothing you could ever do, nothing you could say that could change the way I feel about you. I will keep you safe and warm, throughout eternity. And I will always say these words so true. Three little words to let you know how much I care, I do. Three little words ... I love you."

After the girls were done dancing, Mommy gathered them in front of the piano for story time. She read them one of Haley's favorite stories from "The Adventures of Haley and her Golden Bear." These were adventure stories Mommy made up and wrote about a magical Golden Bear that lived in the hills above town. She would tell the stories to Haley at bed time and read them to her dancers before class. Golden Bear always rescued the little blonde ballerina and her friends.