Redding Dancers In Sunday Nutcracker Ballet

Nine Redding dancers will take the stage on Sunday in Wilton Dance Studio's 17th annual Nutcracker Ballet. This full-scale production features more than 80 students and adults from seven area towns including Redding. The ballet will be performed on Sunday, December 14 at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Wilton High School’s Clune Center for the Performing Arts.

Just like its cast includes dancers of all ages, Wilton Dance Studio’s Nutcracker is perfect for multi-generational audiences, where they can enjoy the magic of the Nutcracker in a local performance. The performance length is manageable for young children, and they are welcome. The ballet follows the traditional story of Clara and her Nutcracker prince from E.T.A. Hoffman's The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, with music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Professional sets and elegant costumes complete the high-quality production.

Both student dancers and their parents join the fun. Todd Trimble is the father of a Redding dancer and he is part of the Nutcracker cast with his daughter Lydia, a John Read fifth grader. Trimble said, "When I first volunteered to be one of the party adults in the Nutcracker, I had no idea it was going to be so much fun!  I'm now in my third year of doing this, and it's been great sharing time with my daughter Lydia on the stage and watching how she and the other girls have grown through dance. And each year my own parents will come visit us from out of state to see us in this wonderful production." 

Lydia Trimble agrees: "I love the Nutcracker. Mostly because I love to dance period, but each year I get different parts and different costumes. And it's all about Christmas, which is my favorite holiday!" 

Student dancers also become part of a different “dance generation” in the ballet each year. Mrs. Froehlich explains, “Our Nutcracker is designed to respect the ballet tradition while giving our dancers a chance to grow with it. Dancers love to find out what part they have in the show each year and it’s a way to mark their progress. The Nutcracker offers so many great roles, from our pre-schoolers who play adorable sheep to our high schoolers who learn challenging roles like the Snow Queen or Sugarplum Fairy. We’re proud of all our dancers’ commitment to create a memorable show.”

Elyse Cowles, a Joel Barlow High School senior said, “I think that there's something so invaluable about getting to participate in the Nutcracker growing up. Seeing the older dancers as you advance over the years is so motivating, and it's fantastic to realize your aspirations over the years and dance roles that are so timeless and beautiful. The Nutcracker is so conditioned into me and my holiday season, and it's almost nostalgic to look back on the many years that my friends and I have been involved in the production and admire how far we have come.”

This 17th year of the production is extra special to Brenda and Mark Froehlich, owners of the Wilton Dance Studio. Traditionally they share the Nutcracker stage with their son Brian Froehlich and his wife Sarah. Now the family is pleased to welcome a third generation, Brian and Sara’s 10-month-old daughter Sophie. Sophie will make her walk-on (or, in this case, carry-on) stage debut in the lavish opening party scene of the ballet. “We’re thrilled to have our beautiful grandchild be part of a holiday tradition that is so special to our family!” said Brenda Froehlich, a Wilton native and artistic director of the studio that has been in Wilton for 25 years.

The Wilton Dance Studio production of The Nutcracker is on Sunday, December 14, 2014 at 1 and 4:30 p.m. at Wilton High School’s Clune Performing Arts Center. To buy tickets, call 203-544-9007 and leave a message or order at www.wiltondance.com, click on “Nutcracker Performances” download & print the ticket order form. Tickets are also available at the door on the day of the show.

Photo 1: Redding father and daughter Lydia and Todd Trimble, in their costumes for Wilton Dance Studio's Nutcracker

Photo 2: Redding Dancers in the 2014 production

Front row (sitting, L to R):  Willow Bradford, Maya Cotter, Caroline Moore

Back row (L to R):  Julia North, Naya Palacio, Penny Murphy (Snow Queen), Elyse Cowles, Lydia Trimble

R
Submitted by Redding, CT

Become a Local Voice in Your Community!

HamletHub invites you to contribute stories, events, and more to keep your neighbors informed and connected.

Read Next