BRATTLEBORO — Brattleboro School of Dance and Company of Muses bring The Nutcracker back to the New England Youth Theater on Friday, Dec. 22, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 23, at 1 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 24, at 1 p.m.
The cast for Pyotr Tchaikovsky's holiday-themed ballet is composed of students, faculty, and alumni of the town's esteemed dance studio, as well as members of the local community, ranging in age from 6 to over 60 years old.
Featured guest artists dancing the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier are Samantha Watson, a former student of Brattleboro School of Dance, and Calvin Bittner of the Vivid Ballet Company based in Hartford, Conn.
Executive producer Jennifer Moyse says this is the fourth time in recent years that Brattleboro School of Dance has staged a full-scale version of The Nutcracker. The familiar and beloved growing Christmas tree and wondrous visual of ballerinas dancing through snow falling onstage return alongside new choreography and costumes, including the famous Mother Ginger Dress set piece.
“Each time we produce the show, we get to add a little more of the magic that people have come to love about The Nutcracker,” says Moyse, crediting this year's artistic director, Holly Johnson, for many of the fun new elements.