December 15, 2023
The New England Academy of Dance (NEAD) will bring the magic of The Nutcracker ballet to the New Canaan Library on Tuesday, December 19 from 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Under the direction of Frances Ortiz, Ginna Ortiz, and Ted Thomas, dancers from NEAD as well as esteemed professionals from New York City will present an educational, family-friendly performance of The Nutcracker. The demonstration will include a reading of The Nutcracker book by the Sugar Plum Fairy, followed by a variation performance.
Other characters from The Nutcracker, Clara, and the Snow Queen, will join in and help with an interactive section where children in attendance will learn a dance from the ballet. The event is ideal for children ages five through 10, but all are welcome.
The History of the Nutcracker Ballet
The Nutcracker ballet originated in 1892 as a two-act classical ballet created by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The plot is based on a short story written by E. T.A. Hoffmann in 1816 called The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. The Nutcracker has continued to be one of the most popular performances since the late 1960s, generating a large portion of ticket sales for ballet companies across North America.
The New England Academy of Dance
The New England Academy of Dance (NEAD) is a pre-professional ballet academy focused on training aspiring young artists to achieve the highest standard of classical dance education. New England Dance Theater (NEDT) is the non-profit arm of the New England Academy of Dance (NEAD) which is a group of dedicated parents and local volunteers working together to create greater access, awareness, and appreciation of the performing arts through dance.