State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara to perform the classic “Nutcracker”
San Juan Symphony featured at Community Concert Hall event, Dec. 11-13
Durango, CO – 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 9th consecutive year, the ballet will charm Durango audiences with two matinee (2 p.m.) and two evening (7 p.m.) performances, Friday-Sunday, Dec. 11-13, 2015, and for the first time, the ballet will feature a live orchestra, as the San Juan Symphony is set to perform.
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 Durango dance instructor Judy Austin, with rehearsal assistants Emily Simpson, Sarah Leavitt, Francesca Bianchi, Cameron DeLacey and Kaelin Roach.
Local dancers scheduled to perform are:
Party Girls
Erin Brown and Teagan Reese
Mice
Kalina Brabeck, Raimee Christian, Sadie Clance, Isabel Greenberg, Ella Johnson, Lauren McClellan, Della Patton, Lilah Potter, Sophia Scavo, Eden Smith, Genevieve Thompson and Hailey Woodworth
Soldiers
Penelope Brabeck, Juliet DiGiacomo, Hannah Helms, Weiming Lambert, Molly Martinez, Vivian Pinkerton, Nina Quayle, Anya Snyder, Grace Tranum and Anna Wiley
Angels
Stella Birrenkott, Zara Rose Brown, Sydney DeLacey, Emma Hallin, Clarice Hise, Hannah Miller, Samantha Phelps, Alyxandrya Potter, Lola Thomas, Gwendolyn Thompson, Rexanne Trautmann and Lucinda Zastrocky
Bon-bons
Makayla Bogan, Julian Lochte-Bono, Maya Fontenot, Jacob Greenberg, Rose Hamill, Zoey Keesee, Bela Knox, Ayumi Lambert, Marley Pinkerton, Mira Quayle, Harper Schill, Lyla Solecki, Naomi Rose Verous and MacKenzie Williams
Bon-Bon Big Sisters
Hannah Helms and Anya Snyder
State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara was founded in 1995 as a non-profit organization by Gustafson, 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 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1loDPv61kzA.
Tickets for the State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara’s “Nutcracker” – $29/$39 – are available by calling 970.247.7657, on the web atwww.durangoconcerts.com, or visit the ticket office inside the Welcome Center at 8th St. and Main Ave. 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.
The Community Concert Hall is a not-for-profit, multi-use performance venue located on the campus of Fort Lewis College. Its ability to bring a diverse spectrum of shows to Southwest Colorado is made possible through a partnership with the college, a state-supported, independent institution of higher education, and through financial and in-kind contributions from generous members of the community.
