State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara to perform classic “Nutcracker”
San Juan Symphony featured at Community Concert Hall event, Dec. 9-11
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 10th consecutive year, the ballet will charm Durango audiences with two matinee (2 p.m.) and two evening (7:30 p.m.) performances, Friday–Sunday, Dec. 9-11, 2016, and for the second 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 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, Lucinda Zastrocky
Mice
Violet Bleger (Queen), Raimee Brant (Queen), Kalina Brabeck, Rose Hamill, Ella Johnson, Scarlett Ramsey, Gillian Reynolds, Eden Smith, Genevieve Thompson (Queen)
Soldiers
Magdelena Bloomfield, Penelope Brabeck, Juliet DiGiacomo, Wei Lambert, Lilia Reynolds, Ava Rhea, Sophia Scavo, Anna Wiley, 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, Mackenzie Williams
Bon-Bon Big Sisters
Weiming Lambert and Lilia Reynolds (Friday night/Saturday matinee)
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 atwww.youtube.com/watch?v=1loDPv61kzA.
Tickets for the State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara’s “Nutcracker” – $29/$42 – are available by calling 970.247.7657, on the web at www.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.
Celebrating its 20th Anniversary Season in 2016-2017, 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.
