By ERIN BEIL
Staff writer
Classical music and elegant costumes will meld together next weekend, kicking off the holiday season as Dance Arts Theatre of Silverdale presents its 20th anniversary production of “The Nutcracker” ballet.
The ballet will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, at the Bremerton High School Performing Arts Center, located at 1500 13th Street. Reserved seating is $12 and general admission is $10. General admission for senior citizens, students and children younger than 18 is $6.
“Having the performance Thanksgiving weekend will have everyone looking forward to it,” said Artistic Director of Dance Arts Theatre of Silverdale Irene Miller. “Everyone looks forward to it … it kicks off the holiday season.”
Miller added that the dancers are excited for the various performances they will be participating in throughout the county, especially those who have spent the last decade performing in “The Nutcracker.”
“The kids are excited because they’ve grown up in the play,” she added. “It’s a lot of fun seeing the girls grow into it year after year.”
Based on the original ballet, “The Nutcracker” follows the children’s story of “Nutcracker and the King of Mice” written in 1816 by E.T.A. Hoffman. The music is by Peter Tchaikovsky with choreography after Marius Petipa and re-staged by Miller.
“I love the music,” Miller said with a smile. “The ballet is very family oriented … The Nutcracker is always exciting for me because my old teacher will attend, and our ballet is based off hers … She loves coming.”
Special to this year’s production of the Nutcracker are guest dancers from the GOH world-class ballet academy in Vancouver, Canada. Yuka Ebihara and Eric Burrough will perform the Snow King and Queen Pas de Deux and the famous roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier.
“The girls look up to the guest dancers because they’re an inspiration,” Miller said with a smile. “The guest dancers are used to doing a lot of touring and guest performances.”
Stephanie Fedorovski, who plays the Arabian princess and has been a part of “The Nutcracker” for 10 years, said she is looking forward to the performance.
“My favorite part is Sunday rehearsals, they are really fun and the best part about the Nutcracker is the nervousness going up to it,” Fedorovski added. “But it’s sad when it’s done.”
Tosha Stabler, who plays one of the dew drops has been in “The Nutcracker” for more than 11 years and started as a sugar angel.
“The best part is helping the little kids,” Stabler said. “They just have a lot of fun with it.”
Erin Rogers, who has been in “The Nutcracker” for seven years, will play the snow princess this year.
“I’m nervous about getting everything straight and figured out,” she added with a smile. “I’m excited for opening night, “The Nutcracker” is my favorite time of year.”
“The Nutcracker” is a ballet featuring a husband and wife who are having a Christmas Eve party for their children and relatives. One of the children, Clara, receives a nutcracker from her godfather which her brother breaks. Later that night, Clara returns to her nutcracker to find it has come to life and is leading toy soldiers to battle mice. The ballet is full of whimsical characters taking a journey through the snow forests and kingdoms of sweets.
For more information or tickets, call Miller at (360) 692-4395.
