The Nutcracker Ballet

If the music sounds sweeter than sugarplums, the dancers seem lighter than air, and the snowflakes sparkle more brightly than ever before, you are not dreaming, but you have escaped into the magical holiday classic ballet The Nutcracker, by Tchaikovsky. The holiday season would not be complete without this festive tradition performed by Studio K Youth Ballet Company.

The Nutcracker is a magical story of a young girl, Clara, whose toy nutcracker transforms into a brave prince and takes her on a journey into the Land of Snow and Sweets on Christmas Eve.

A cast of over 350 local dancers bring Clara’s dazzling holiday fairy tale to life. Throughout the show, the stage sparkles with playful mice, a court of soldiers, guardian angels, graceful snowflakes, waltzing flowers, precious bonbons, party guests, ginger kids, and sugar plums. It is every little (and big) girl’s dream to dance in The Nutcracker. The show is a wonderful way for families to start off the Christmas season. From the hundreds of glamorous costumes and colorful backdrops to the amazing growing Christmas tree and enchanting snowfall, this show takes the audience on an extraordinary journey to far away lands.

Director Cay Harkins thinks of the production fondly, as a labor of love, saying, “I am so very blessed to be surrounded by such passionate dancers. The entire company looks forward to returning to rehearsals in September and works tirelessly right up to opening night. It’s always very sad to watch the curtain close on the last performance. The Nutcracker is a wonderful tradition for Studio K, and as with most traditions, you need friends and family to share in the joy with. Our company is most definitely a family.”

Many of the ballerinas at Studio K cannot remember a Christmas without performing in The Nutcracker. Each year as the young ballerinas mature, they progress to the next level of corps de ballet beginning as little Bonbons and striving for the role of Sugar Plum Fairy. This year, we are excited to have several “third generation” dancers as well as mother/daughter pairs in the performance. We still have some of the original ballerinas who were in our first Nutcracker in 1985.

Studio K Ballet Company would like to formally invite you and your family to join Clara and her beloved nutcracker prince on their magical journey to the Land of Sweets. There will be four opportunities to experience this wonderful holiday tradition: Friday, December 9th @7:00, Saturday, December 10th @1:00 & 7:00, Sunday, December 11th @3:00. Tickets can be purchased at https://mpv.tickets.com/schedule?orgId=53490&agency=ASUV_MPV#event=Nutcracker or at The Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts box office or by calling the box office at (828)-262-4046. Come continue your family’s tradition – or start a new one this year with Studio K Youth Ballet’s performance of…THE NUTCRACKER!