A timeless tradition ushers in the winter holiday season when The Ridgefield School of Dance presents The Nutcracker on Sunday, November 17, at 1 pm, at Ridgefield High School. The Nutcracker will be followed by Hit Play, a performance by the Jazz Department. Tickets will go on sale October 20 through theridgefieldschoolofdance.com or are available at the door.
The Nutcracker, featuring the beloved music of Tchaikovsky and includes innovative and clever choreography by artistic director Jessica Boelts, is a joyful holiday tradition for millions.
The ballet includes the youngest of dancers all the way up through seasoned pre-professional ballerinas. The dancers will take the audience on a journey from a Victorian holiday party with magical life-sized dolls to the young Clara’s dream where toy soldiers come alive and battle mice, the majestic rat queen and her entourage. A blizzard of snowflakes sweeps everyone off to the magical Land of the Sweets where they are welcomed by the Sugar Plum Fairy as well as Peppermints, Gumdrops and other delightful treats.
Dancing the part of Clara, a young girl discovering the magic of Christmas, is Brianna Martini, a sixth grader at John Jay Middle School in South Salem, N.Y. In their final Nutcracker with The Ridgefield School of Dance are Wilton resident Lauren Minor as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Ridgefield’s Alexandra McCausland as Coffee. These seniors will also present the elegant Waltz of the Snowflakes with the PreProfessional Division. Korey Tuttle of Ridgefield, with two daughters dancing in the November 17 performance, will be on stage as Dr. Drosselmeyer, whose magic enchants Clara’s dream.
*Image shows dancers from the Ridgefield School of Dance’s Pre-professional division dancing in the Land of Sweets awaken Clara from her enchanted dream in last year’s performance of the Nutcracker. Photo courtesy of Steve White Photography.