This is the season for annual productions of “The Nutcracker” — and audiences have their choice of shows in the West Windsor-Plainsboro area. While every production of the Nutcracker ballet is different, each has Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, the Mouse King, Mother Ginger, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and the Land of Sweets. Some productions are narrated, which makes it a nice introduction to ballet for young children.
The Nutcracker, based on “The Nutcracker of Nuremberg” by Alexander Dumas, is an adaptation of “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” by E.T.A. Hoffmann. Tchaikovsky was commissioned to write the music for the ballet in 1891, and the world premiere was in 1892 at the Mariinsky Theater of Russia. It was not performed in the United States until 1940.
“The Nutcracker Suite” will be presented by the West Windsor Plainsboro Dance Company on Saturday and Sunday, December 7 and 8, at Grover Middle School in West Windsor.
Children and adults will delight in the narrated version of the classic tale of a young girl’s journey to the Land of the Snow and the Land of the Sweets. The music of Tchaikovsky highlights a choreographed production that features ballet, pointe, lyric, jazz, tap, and hip hop.
West Windsor dancers include Sydney Abitanto, Ava Barbrow, Regan Blessing, Alexa Bronstein, Kayla Chait, Anna Che, Lona Chugh, Winnie Coen, Callia Cordasco, Faith Falkowitz, Julia Felice, Mia Ferri, Caroline Foley, Sarah Glickson, Kyleigh Hillsdon, Diya Hundiwala, Isabel Josephson, Eve Kavalov, Lula Kavalov, Courtney Kobus, Jamie Kobus, Kelsey Kobus, Julia Kozakowski, Courtney Kraft, Lauren Kuczmarski, Sonia Lackey, Georgia Lager, Jessica Lewinson, Charlotte Lichenstein, Kimberly Litzinger, and Olivia Lluberes.
Also, Casey McElroy, Kelly McElroy, William McElroy, Heather Muniz, Olivia Muniz, Sanjana Musafir, Aditi Nayak, Hope Pandolpho, Julia Perl, Ruth Perl, Sophie Pirrera, Amanda Popovic, Olivia Popovic, Amanda Porada, Rachel Porada, Christine Rexroad, Josephine Ryan, Grace Sawyers, Rebecca Schwartz, Kaila Shah, Nikita Simhadri, Pia Singh, Corinne Smith, Jeanette Smith, Shannon Smith, Anna Stults, Abigail Tattle, Kelsey Tattle, Sydney Tattle, Trieu Tran, Regina Trevino, Rachel Trokenheim, Paloma Villota, Anika Vincent, Alex Vogel, Peter Wilityer, Roni Wilityer, and Ryan Wilityer.
Plainsboro dancers include Katherine Antos, Prisha Bagchi, Frehiwot Budka, Nadia Burston, Elise Burton, Julia Calo, Elizabeth Cruz, Christine DeJong, Sarah DeJong, Erica Harris, Amelia Hohf, Lillian Hohf, Katie Kane, Grace Kolker, Amanda Kowalski, Carly Kowalski, Chuck McCarthy, Nicole McCarthy, Francesca Moriello, Alexa Rubin, Lindsay Rubin, Natasha Singer, Olivia Solis, Iris Tseng, and Tatiana Tymofyeyeva.
— Lynn Miller
American Repertory Ballet is celebrating its 50th annual Nutcracker season beginning with a weekend in Princeton. The Nutcracker will be at McCarter Theater Wednesday, November 27; Friday, November 29; and Saturday, November 30.
The current version of Nutcracker is choreographed by artistic director Douglas Martin with additional choreography by resident choreographer Mary Barton. A new growing Christmas tree designed by Carl Sprague makes its stage debut.
Costumed dancers will also appear at ARB’s annual “Nutcracker Sweets” party on November 29 at 3:15 p.m. at McCarter Theater. There will be homemade treats; tea, coffee, and hot cocoa served in china teacups; story time; and free photos with costumed characters. Tickets for “Nutcracker Sweets” are sold separately from performance tickets.
ARB’s “Celebrate the Legacy” reception at the Nassau Club on Saturday, November 30, at 7 p.m. presents an opportunity for ARB and Princeton Ballet School supporters, alumni, and current dancers and their families to mingle, reconnect, and reminisce.
West Windsor dancers include Zarah Danika Mendoza, Nicole Potenza, Patrizia Galati, Clara Nevers, Nora Weiss, Kylie Zhou, Lily Zhu, Caroline Galati, Isabella Markey, and Connor Kraft.
Plainsboro dancers include Cate Bashore, Marian Farrell, Kaila Jones, Utku Ozdemir, Camille Redmond, Calla Song, and Sophia Walker.
ARB also has performances at the War Memorial in Trenton and the State Theater in New Brunswick.
The Nutcracker, American Repertory Ballet, McCarter Theater, 91 University Place, Princeton. Wednesday, November 27, 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, November 29 and 30, 1 and 4:30 p.m. Tchaikovsky’s score with a cast of more than 100 dancers including ARB’s professional dancers, ARB trainees, and Princeton Ballet School students. $20 to $60. 609-258-2787. www.mccarter.org
The Nutcracker, American Repertory Ballet, Patriots Theater, War Memorial, Trenton. Saturday, December 7, 1 and 4:30 p.m. 50th anniversary performance with Tchaikovsky’s score. $35 to $45. 609-948-8400. www.arballet.org
The Nutcracker, American Repertory Ballet, State Theater, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. Saturday and Sunday, December 21 and 22, 1 and 4:30 p.m. 50th anniversary performance with Tchaikovsky’s score. $37 to $57. 732-246-7469. www.arballet.org
Alborada Spanish Dance Theater, Kelsey Theater, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Sunday, December 15, 2 and 7 p.m. “El Sueno” (The Dream) is an adaptation of the Nutcracker with dances from Spain and Latin America cultures, live music, and professional dancers. $18. 609-570-3333. www.kelseytheatre.net
The Nutcracker, Kelsey Theater, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, December 20 to 22, 7 p.m. New Jersey Youth Ballet transports the audience to the Land of the Sweets. Fully narrated version of the classic ballet. $16. 609-570-3333. www.kelseytheatre.net.
The Nutcracker, Roxey Ballet, College of New Jersey, Kendall Hall, Ewing. Saturday and Sunday, November 30, December 1, 7, and 8, 3 p.m. Holiday tradition directed by Mark Roxey. $15 to $50. 609-397-7616. www.roxeyballet.com
The Nutcracker Suite, West Windsor Plainsboro Dance Company, Grover Middle School, Village Road, West Windsor. Saturday, December 7, 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 8, 1 p.m. A narrated version of the timeless classic tale featuring ballet, pointe, lyrical, hip-hop, tap, and jazz. Choreography by Amy DeCesare, Roni Wilityer, and Victoria Chodrow. Register. $11. 609-799-9677. www.thedancecorner.org
