Ballet teams with Manchester Symphony for ‘Nutcracker’
By Journal Inquirer Staff
December 7, 2017
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| On the cover: Leanne Baldwin of Manchester, left, Anna Murray, center, and Alicia Haynes dance “The Waltz of the Flowers” in “The Nutcracker.” |
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| Jim Michaud / Journal Inquirer |
| Above, Connecticut Concert Ballet dancers Emma Triantafyllou of Hebron, left, Tricia Kearney of Manchester, center, and Vanessa Polidoro of Tolland rehearse the Chinese Dance for “The Nutcracker,” to be staged at Manchester High School in four shows Saturday and Sunday. The Manchester Symphony Orchestra will join the ballet for two shows on Saturday. |
MANCHESTER — The Connecticut Concert Ballet will collaborate with the Manchester Symphony Orchestra for two shows of the Christmas classic “The Nutcracker” on Saturday, Dec. 9.
The orchestra will perform live music for the shows on Saturday at noon and 4 p.m.
The ballet company will give additional performances on Sunday, Dec. 10, at noon and 4 p.m. in Bailey Auditorium at Manchester High School, 134 Middle Turnpike East.
Ballet artistic directors are David Lawrence and Wendy Fish-Lawrence.
Approximately 130 local dancers will have roles in the ballet.
Dancers from north-central Connecticut having lead roles include:
Bolton: Kaleigh Davis, Toyshop Ballerina Doll; Vivian Lawrence, Fritz
Ellington: Eileen Liu, Toyshop Soldier Doll; Tess Ryan, Spanish Soloist
Hebron: Emma Ruth Triantafyllou, Clara the Princess, Chinese Soloist
Manchester: Leanne Baldwin, Clara the Princess; Sara Baldwin, Mouse Queen, Lead Shepherdess; Aislinn Gara Grady, Toyshop Soldier Doll; Dakota Jusem-LaPorte, Toyshop Soldier Doll; Tricia Kearney, Fritz; Kayla Sandoval, Toyshop Soldier Doll; Maricel Thongmanivong, Arabian Soloist, Russian Soloist
South Windsor: Joanna Donovan, Toyshop Ballerina Doll
Tolland: Kallie Baboolal, Young Clara; Kate Beck, Toyshop Soldier Doll; Olivia Person, Toyshop Ballerina Doll, Chinese Soloist; Vanessa Polidoro, Toyshop Ballerina Doll, Chinese Soloist
Windsor: Sage Hanlon, Russian Soloist, Spanish Soloist.
Professional guest artists will be David DuBois as the Nutcracker and Kristy DuBois as the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Advance tickets are preferred front and center seats, $35; general admission, adults, $25, children, students, and seniors, $15. Tickets are $3 more if purchased at the door: $38, $28, $18.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call 860-418-7294 or visit:
ctconcertballet.org
Connecticut Concert Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” has been a holiday event for more than 40 years.
Traditions include a giant Christmas tree that grows before your eyes, toy soldiers, twirling snowflakes, waltzing flowers, and visions of sugarplums.
Connecticut Concert Ballet is a semi-professional classical ballet school and performing arts organization with studios in Manchester at 280 Garden Grove Road and in Windsor in the Great Hall at Grace Church, 311 Broad St.
Proceeds from the show will be used to fund the nonprofit school.