“The Nutcracker,” Two Ways
Two ballet troupes will present Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic “The Nutcracker” this weekend.
The Hampton Ballet Theatre School’s will take the production to Guild Hall in East Hampton, while the Conservatory of Ballet and Danse Arts will perform at the Southampton High School.
Both schools are based in Bridgehampton, with many young dancers from points east of there. This year, two new principal dancers will debut as the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Danse Arts production. Julia Talasko of East Hampton and Cornelia O’Connor of Southampton will take turns in the leading role, partnering with Leonel Linares, a professional dancer from New York.
The Danse Arts Nutcracker is choreographed by Betteanne Terrell and Megan Cancellieri. Show times will be tomorrow at 7 p.m., Saturday at 5 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Children will be invited onstage following each performance for photographs with the dancers, and on Sunday at 1 p.m. there will be a visit from Santa Claus before the 2 p.m. show.
Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for children under 16 and those over 60. They can be purchased online at dansearts.com or by e-mail: [email protected]. Children under 2 will be admitted for free.
The Hampton Ballet Theatre School’s production is choreographed by Sara Jo Strickland, the theater’s director, and includes costumes designed and sewn by Yuka Silvera, with lighting design by Sebastian Paczynski. Guest artists will dance the Sugar Plum Fairy’s and the Cavalier’s Grand Pas de Deux.
The Guild Hall performances will be tonight at 7 p.m., Saturday at 1 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Tickets cost $20 in advance for adults, $15 for children under 12. They can be purchased online at hamptonballettheaterschool.com or at 888-933-4287.