Nearly 50 local dancers will join the professionals of the State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara to present the magical holiday ballet, "Nutcracker," at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College.
For the 10th consecutive year, the ballet will charm Durango audiences with two matinees and two evening performances next weekend.
For the second time, the ballet will feature a live orchestra as the San Juan Symphony joins the performance. Artistic Director Rodney Gustafson holds true to the original classical ballet in this Tchaikovsky masterpiece, creating a traditional "Nutcracker" set in Victorian times and suited for all ages.
"Everyone should have the opportunity to see this timeless and beautiful ballet during the holidays," noted Gustafson in a press release. "It's a story everyone can follow as it's brought to life through familiar music and timeless dance."
The "Nutcracker" is based on the book The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffman, and tells the story of a young German girl, Clara, whose godfather Drosselmeyer, a skilled clock and toy maker, presents her with a toy nutcracker during a holiday party. In Clara's dream, the toy comes to life and escorts her on a journey to a magical land, where a cast of unusual characters entertains her through dance.
The young, local dancers scheduled to perform with the professionals have been coordinated by Emily Simpson Grandt of San Juan Ballet. Local dancers scheduled to perform are:
Party Scene Children: Molly Bertrand, Zara Rose Brown, Emily Fiala, Emma Hallin, Julian Lotche, Hannah Miller, Samantha Phelps, Alyxandrya Potter, Adaley Rhea, Anya Snyder, Rexanne Trautmann, and Lucinda Zastrocky. Soldiers: Magdelena Bloomfield, Penelope Brabeck, Juliet DiGiacomo, Wei Lambert, Lilia Reynolds, Ava Rhea, Sophia Scavo, Anna Wiley and Hailey Woodworth.Angels: Zara Rose Brown, Emily Fiala, Emma Hallin, Hannah Miller, Samantha Phelps, Alyxandrya Potter, Anya Snyder, Gwendolyn Thompson, Rexanne Trautmann and Lucinda Zastrocky.Bon bons: Gabriella Albert, Makayla Bogan, Maya Fontenot, Esmerelda Garcia, Jacob Greenberg, Bela Knox, Ayumi Lambert, Sayako Lambert, Julian Lochte-Bono, Allyra Meeker, Harper Shill, Lyla Solecki, Naomi Verow and Mackenzie Williams.Bon bon big sisters: Weiming Lambert and Lilia Reynolds (Friday night/Saturday matinee); and Julie DiGiacomo and Anna Wiley (Saturday night/Sunday matinee).State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara was founded in 1995 as a non-profit organization by Gustafson, who was formerly with Geneva Ballet, Cleveland Ballet and American Ballet Theatre.
The company combines the discipline and timeless elegance of classical ballet technique with updated, cutting-edge choreography that satisfies today's diverse audiences. A group praised for strong commitment to artistic and technical excellence, State Street Ballet is also applauded for the intelligently designed, versatile performances that have become the company's trademark.
View a sampling of the State Street Ballet's "Nutcracker" performance at <URL destination="http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D1loDPv61kzA.%20%20%0D">www.youtube.com/watch?v=1loDPv61kzA.
</URL>Performances are at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10 and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets are $29 and $42 and are available by calling 247-7657, on the web at www.durangoconcerts.com, or visit the ticket office inside the Welcome Center at Eighth Street and Main Avenue in Downtown Durango. Ticket Office hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. On show days, the box office at the Concert Hall will be open one hour prior to curtain. All sales final.
