The battle scene from American Repertory Ballet’s ‘Nutcracker’ features a new Christmas tree by Carl Sprague. (Photo by Kay Chen).
Local dancers are set to perform in American Repertory Ballet’s 50th annual Nutcracker production.
Dancers are students of Princeton Ballet School, the official school of ARB.
The company is scheduled to present Nutcracker 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Dec. 21 and 22 at the State Theatre in New Brunswick. These performances feature Tchaikovsky’s score played live by an orchestra under the direction of maestro Michael Pratt, and vocals by the Princeton Girlchoir.
American Repertory Ballet, formerly known as Princeton Ballet, has been performing its Nutcracker at State Theatre for more than 20 years. ARB’s current version of Nutcracker is choreographed by artistic director Douglas Martin, with additional choreography by resident choreographer Mary Barton, features the Act I Party and Battle scenes from company founder Audrée Estey’s original production.
This year, there is a brand new growing Christmas tree, designed by Carl Sprague.
ARB’s Nutcracker is a special opportunity for select students from Princeton Ballet School to join the professional company on stage.
Emilia Kraft of Titusville will be reprising the role of Clara this year.
Dancers from Princeton and Jenin Amer, Laura Babikian, Kiera Black, Athena Boutross, Annalee Brody, Grace Chung, Isabelle Clayton, Florencia Churchitser, Marina Churchitser, Nicole Dalton, Abigail de Riel, Tiffany Dietrich, Elio DiMauro, Caroline DiSimoni, Ned Erickson, Carmen Finn, Julia Finn, Lucile Fleurial, Charlotte Granato, Morgan Heiser, Nicole Heiser, Elizabeth Jones, Benjamin Jorgensen, Michael Karnaukh, Manya Kaushik, Skye Knowlton, Michalina Lacheta, Ashlyn Liverman, Natsuki Miller, Catalina Molina, Dean Morgan, Valentina Palladino, Jacqueline Patterson, Helena Ploss, Anjali Prior, Emma Raccaro, Alexandra Roden, Robin Roth, Maina Shaevitz, Emma Simmins, Blaise Stone, Lucia Valencia, Sofia Valencia, Madeleine Wass, Eliza White, Chloe Wright and Lilly Wright.
Dancers from Princeton Junction are Patrizia Galati, Clara Nevers, Nora Weiss, Kylie Zhou, Lily Zhu, Caroline Galati, Isabella Markey and Connor Kraft
Dancers from Lawrenceville are Elisabeth Hekman, Emily Jorgensen, Lindsay Jorgensen, Alexandra Loughran, Ciara Loughran, Molly Lutolf, Gemma Oshiro, Allison Piccone, Heidi Vander Schaaff, Cynthia Yank and Jacqueline Yank
The cast also includes Kyryk Pavlovsky of Ewing, Carina Famous of Hamilton Square, Hannah-Yael Apedo of Mercerville, Ines Dominique, Paige Dumon, Sydney Faber and Julia Rutman of Pennington, Kahlia Fletcher of Trenton and Zarah Danika Mendoza and Nicole Potenza of West Windsor.
Princeton Ballet School director Mary Pat Robertson is set to host Pre-Performance Insights which introduce the audience to the ballet’s story and characters before the show.
Pre-Performance Insights are scheduled for noon and 3:30 p.m. Dec. 21, and 3:30 p.m. Dec. 22 at the United Methodist Church, 323 George Street, New Brunswick.
Robertson is also set to host a post-performance discussion with costumed characters after the 1 p.m. performance Dec. 21. This is a chance for audience members to meet the dancers, ask questions and request autographs.
More information is online at americanrepertoryballet.org.
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