BRATTLEBORO — For the second straight year, Company of Muses presents Brattleboro School of Dance's “The Nutcracker” at New England Youth Theatre.
Show times are 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 19 and 20, and 1 and 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 21.
This year's production of the holiday classic includes the staging of the mouse and soldier battle, a scene that had to be omitted from last year's version. Guest artist Damon Honeycutt drew on his background in circus and martial arts to choreograph the scene with the help of Brattleboro School of Dance Director Jennifer Moyse and faculty member Gershon Moore.
Moore also plays the role of the mouse king.
“We have hip-hop elements in the mice choreography and ballet elements for the soldiers. It was great fun figuring out how to blend the two,” says Moyse, who provides overall direction for the ballet and transitional choreography and technical elements.
Moyse adds that this year's production also features another new element: the traditional growing Christmas tree. There is also new choreography by Anna Bowler (Russian dance), Jamie Gehring (Arabian dance), and Rachel Hebert (Spanish dance).
Hebert is also staging Robert Royce's original choreography for Snow, and Holly Johnson will do the same for Kathi Keller's “Waltz of the Flowers.”
Keller, who founded Brattleboro School of Dance in 1976, returns to stage traditional choreography for several pieces, including the Chinese dance, “Dance of the Reed Flutes,” and Sugar Plum Fairy.
Nan Mann stages traditional choreography for the party scene and Polichinelle.
Cast members include 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.