Laurel Dance Company (LDC) will present its 17th production of "The Nutcracker" on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 2:30 and 7 p.m. at Conestoga Valley High School's theater, 2110 Horseshoe Road, Lancaster. The show is being choreographed and directed by Kristina Grant of Harrisburg.
Dancers in this year's production include students from Balance Dance Studio, Cavod Academy of the Arts, Cricket's Performing Arts, Dance Dynamix, LanCo Performing Arts, Laurel Dance Company's studio, Pulse Dance Studio, and Susquehanna Dance Center in Lancaster County as well as McCann's School of Dance in Dauphin County and Artists in Motion Performing Arts in Schuylkill County.
The classic holiday ballet centers around the Stahlbaum family. This year's Clara will be played by Anna Weissend, a seventh-grade student at Elizabethtown Area Middle School who will take part in her second "Nutcracker" performance with LDC.
Other returning cast members include Grace Anne Acebo as the Sugar Plum Fairy; her father, Brian Acebo, as Opa Stahlbaum for the fourth year; Joelle Maier as Snow Queen and Marzipan Lead; Kaitlyn Staskel as the Ballerina doll, Arabian Lead, and Flower; and Kassie Leid as Clara's brother, Fritz. Jamie Martin is joining the cast this year as the Cavalier and Rat King. Adamo Caridi is new to the role as Clara's father. David Hurst is the only member of the cast to have performed in each of LDC's "Nutcracker" productions. The Dew Drop Fairy will be played by Courtney Taylor, a sophomore at Warwick High School.
Two high school seniors, Emma Melochick and Madalyn Rissler, are part of the production. Emma attends Minersville Area High School and is the Governess, a new role for her this year. Madalyn attends Ephrata High School and will perform the roles of Party Adult, Snowflake, Chinese Corps, and Flower. Madalyn's first dance teacher, Karen Hershman, will return as Clara's mother.
Tickets may be purchased in advance for a discounted price at http://www.tututix.com, along with tickets for seniors and students.
Laurel Dance Company is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dance company and resides in its own dance studio at 514 E. Main St., Ephrata. Laurel Dance Company's studio is still accepting students for all classes. For more information regarding "The Nutcracker" and/or classes at the studio, readers may visit http://www.laureldance.org or email laureldancecompany@yahoo.com.
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