BRATTLEBORO — Company of Muses announces that tickets for the 2014 Brattleboro School of Dance production of “The Nutcracker” are on sale.
Show times for this year's run of the holiday classic are 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 19-20, and matinees at 1 and 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 21.
All performances are at the New England Youth Theatre, 100 Flat St.
For tickets, visit www.BrattleboroSchoolofDance.com or visit the studio, 22 High St., on Saturdays between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The studio is closed Saturday, Nov. 29.
Tickets also will be sold in the studio from 5 to 7 p.m. during the Friday, Dec. 5 Gallery Walk, as well at the Brattleboro Food Co-op (dates to be determined).
According to Jennifer Moyse, Brattleboro School of Dance's director, “We recognize not everyone wants to purchase tickets online. Last year, we nearly sold out the entire run in advance, so we are trying to be as accommodating as possible and give everyone a fair opportunity.”
Bring on the mice and soldiers
This will be the second consecutive year Brattleboro School of Dance has mounted “The Nutcracker” ballet, complete with costumes and sets. New to this year's version is the staging of the mouse and soldier battle.
Guest artist Damon Honeycutt drew on his background in circus arts and martial arts to choreograph the scene with the help of Moyse and faculty member Gershon Moore, who is playing the role of the mouse king.
Additional new choreography is provided by Anna Bowler (for the Russian dance), Jamie Gehring (Arabian dance), and Rachel Hebert (Spanish dance).
Hebert is also staging Robert Royce's original choreography for Snow; Holly Johnson will do the same for Kathi Keller's Waltz of the Flowers.
Keller, BSDs founder, returns to stage traditional choreography for several pieces, including Chinese dance, Dance of the Reed Flutes, and the Sugar Plum Fairy. Nan Mann stages traditional choreography for the Party Scene and Polichinelle.
Moyse provides overall direction, transitional choreography, and technical elements, including another new element in this year's production: the traditional growing Christmas Tree.
Cast members are composed of Brattleboro School of Dance students, alumni and faculty, with guest artist Justin Koertgen returning to dance the Cavalier. The role of the Sugar Plum Fairy is again portrayed by student Samantha Watson, while new student Justin Vasselli dances the role of the Nutcracker Prince.