CAMDEN — The Rockport Dance Conservatory will present The Selkie Child and other original choreography at the Camden Opera House, 29 Elm Street on May 25 and 26. The story of The Selkie Child plays on Irish folklore. A Selkie is a seal like creature who lives in the sea. The creature can shed its coat and live for a time as a human.

In the fanciful tale, an Irish lass discovers that her young sister is a Selkie. In this adventure, magical beings help and hinder the sibling leading the Selkie to make an important choice.

The story is based on Tom Moore's animated classic The Song of the Sea, that tells the Selkie tale. Director Kari Cameron said there was no way they could not possibly take all the parts of the movie and put together a dance story, so they pieced together parts of it to tell the tale.

"We tried to follow as closely as we could with our resources and dancers," she said. "The movie itself is beautiful and has a Selkie character in it and that is what we've gone with."

If you love Irish dance, Act II is for you. Cameron said they have built Irish elements into the story.

"One of our tap dancer's husband plays the bagpipes, so we worked that in," she said. "We have another dancer who's father is Irish, so he will do some narration."

The Selkie Child encompasses Act II of the Rockport Dance Conservatory's 11th Spring Showcase. Act I showcases the RDC students and their different styles of dance and age groups whether it be jazz, contemporary, tap, hip hop, or musical theater.

Cameron said her students have worked hard to once again bring their audience creativity, style and vision.

"We hold passionately to our original mission to intertwine dance genres into a quality showcase beyond the usual recital," she said. "Our goal with this show is to inspire your imagination."

Cameron said much of Act I is is from competition and has won awards for the students.

"We did two competitions last year," she said. "One in Waterville and one in southern Maine in the Berwick area. It's great for our students. It gets them out of the Midcoast area and they see what other studios, not only Maine, but Massachusetts and New Hampshire, are doing as well."

Cameron said the Nationals this year are in Portland and her students will be attending.

Assistant Director Sally Leighton-Cameron said there is always a lot of work that goes into costumes.

"Every year we come up with a different theme," she said. "When it's over we think ‘oh no, what will we do next year,’ and then we wind up saying that's the best thing we ever did, but then they want to know what we're doing next year."

Cameron said next year they will be staging Fractured Fairy Tales.

The cost is $15 for adults, $10 for senior citizens/students and admission is free children younger then six. Tickets through RDC dancers and at front desk of Mid-Coast Recreation Center, or at door.