Nine Manheim Township School District (MTSD) students will dance alongside professional dancers from the U.S., Japan, and Ukraine in performances of "The Nutcracker" sponsored and directed by Viktor Yeliohin, owner of the Viktor Yeliohin International Ballet Academy in Lancaster. Yeliohin has been directing "The Nutcracker" performances in Lancaster for nearly three decades. The 2021 show marks the 28th year.
After a year off, the classic holiday ballet will return to Lancaster with performances on Friday, Dec. 3, at 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 4, at 1 and 6 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 5, at 2:30 p.m. at Lancaster Mennonite Performing Arts Center, 2176 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster.
The dancers from Manheim Township School District are as follows: Lea Branstetter, Nitrauer Elementary; Mackenzie Cooper and Lily Fitzgerald, Landis Run Intermediate; Dakota Nesbitt, Dathan Nesbitt, and Taylor Zheng, Bucher Elementary; Seiko Greineder and Emmeleine Truong, Manheim Township Middle School; and Ali Bube and Erika Rodriguez, Manheim Township High School.
Erika, a senior, will dance one of the lead roles as Fritz. Erika will also have a solo role as African Doll in Act I and will dance en pointe in Act II.
Ali, a junior, will dance a featured role en pointe as Queen of the Woodland Fairies in Act II. She will also dance en pointe in other scenes and will be one of six dancing the Russian piece.
Seiko, a seventh-grader, will dance a featured role as Mother Ginger in Act II. Seiko will dance en pointe in several scenes, among other involvements.
The other MTSD dancers will dance in the opening scene, will portray mice in the battle with the Mouse King, and more. Branstetter, Cooper, and Truong will also be Little Snow in the snow scene.
Separate ticket prices have been set for general admission, for senior citizens and students, and for balcony seating. To reserve tickets, call 610-914-3663 or email vyibanutcrackertix@gmail.com. For more information about the academy, visit http://www.vyballet.com.
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