Holiday Classic Will Return December 16 To The Ridgefield School of Dance
The Ridgefield School of Dance will present The Nutcracker ballet, a perennial holiday favorite, along with Winter Magic, a jazz performance on Sunday, Dec. 16, at Ridgefield High School, at 1:30 pm. Tickets are on sale through theridgefieldschoolofdance.com or at the door.
The Nutcracker is a magical story about a young girl Clara, and a Nutcracker who comes to life as a prince. The prince and Clara battle an army of mice with the help of toy soldiers, travel through a snowy forest and are guided by the Sugar Plum fairy through the fantastical Land of Sweets, all set to the enchanting music of Tchaikovsky.
The ballet features Kali Winslow of Weston dancing the lead role of Clara, a young girl who discovers the magic of Christmas. Company members Julia Garrett of Ridgefield and Kyra Winslow of Weston will dance the parts of Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen respectively with guest artists Andrés Castillo Gomez as the Cavalier, and Mitchell Kilby as the Snow King. In addition to Ms. Garrett and Winslow, company members performing this year are Eugenia Cashman (Chinese), Sofia Garrett (Dew Drop), Ingrid Karlson (Arabian), Lily Meyler (Party Parent) and Ariana Mirfakhraie (Soldier Doll) from Ridgefield, and Rebecca Ronai (Kissy Doll) from Weston. They will also be performing ensemble in the Waltz of the Snowflakes
“It really does take an entire village to mount our production of The Nutcracker and the jazz performance every year,” says Alison Brown, director of The Ridgefield School of Dance. “Almost all of our dancers are in the show, from our charming 3-year olds to the excellent Company members. The support of our parents is rewarding and weeks of rehearsals and preparation culminate in a great show full of dance, drama and joy for all the ages.”
A special treat of the holiday season, the show features beautiful sets and backdrops, including a massive Christmas tree and life-size gift boxes from which dancers emerge and perform as life-size dolls.
True to the plot of the classic, artistic director Jess Boelts adds unique layers to the performance, including special parts for the littlest dancers from the pre-ballet program. “It allows her to make the show broader and richer,” Brown said.
You can see performances by The Ridgefield School of Dance twice a year. In December, they present The Nutcracker and their Jazz program while in the spring, they present a classical ballet, the Jazz program and a special original ballet with innovative choreography from Ms. Boelts. Past performances include Madeline, Carnival of the Animals, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Les Sylphides, and selections from Paquita and Swan Lake.
The Ridgefield School of Dance is at 66 Grove Street, Ridgefield, CT. For more information, go to www.theridgefieldschoolofdance.com or call 203-894-5957.
Tickets are on sale through theridgefieldschoolofdance.com or at the door.