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The Nutcracker

The Ballet Theatre of Dover's 2009 production of The Nutcracker will be presented at The Schwartz Center for the Arts on State Street. Tickets will be available at the door or by calling 734-9717.

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Gennadi Saveliev (the Prince) and Sarah Moore (Clara)
in BTD's The Nutcracker

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On Dec. 12 and 13, the Ballet Theatre of Dover will present The Nutcracker at The Schwartz Center for the Arts.  For many years, this has been an annual holiday tradition in downtown Dover. Performances will be at 2pm and 7 pm on Saturday, Dec. 12, and at 2pm on Sunday, Dec. 13. Sean Stewart will dance the role of The Nutcracker Prince. Sean has danced with American Ballet Theatre and The Joffrey Ballet, and has studied at the Paris Opera Ballet School.

School performances are on Friday, Dec. 11 at 9:30 am and 12:00 pm. Cost of the performance is $5/student. One teacher per 10 students is FREE and Adult chaperones are $6.00. This is a considerable discount from the regular performance of $20 for Adults and $15 for Students and Seniors. 

A Study Guide and Poster Contest Guidelines will be sent to you upon registration of your school group.

Set to the familiar music of Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky, our presentation of this classical Christmas-time ballet includes some of Ivanov's original 1892 choreography and additional chorography and new staging by Artistic Director, Teresa Emmons.
The action begins with a splendid party in the drawing room of Herr and Frau Stahlbaum, where the guests, especially the children are entertained by the magical puppets of Herr Drosselmeyer. Drosselmeyer's gift of a Nutcracker doll to his god-daughter, Clara, is the catalyst for a marvelous adventure - and adventure that symbolizes Clara's transformation from a girl to a young woman.
The drawing room becomes the scene of a dreadful battle between the toy soldiers, led by the Nutcracker, and giant rats. Clara saves the life of the Nutcracker and finds him transformed into a handsome prince. They are transported to a snowy glade where Clara and the Prince are welcomed by beautiful snow fairies.

The Prince takes Clara to his own world, the Kingdom of the Sweets, where she is welcomed as a Princess and entertained by all kinds of confections. He asks her to rule his kingdom with him. The Prince and Clara dance and, exhausted, she falls asleep.
When she awakes, she is once again in her father's house and her faithful Nutcracker is nearby.
In past performances, the role of The Prince has been danced by Charles Askegard (Principal dancer, New York City Ballet), Petter Jacobsson (formerly of The Royal Ballet, London), and Gennadi Saveliev (Member, American Ballet Theatre).
The inspiration to develop a full-length production of The Nutcracker came from a weekend of Master Classes taught at Dance Conservatory by Gelsey Kirkland, who taught and coached the Sugar Plum Variation during that memorable weekend in 1995. Miss Kirkland can still be seen dancing in this ballet opposite Baryshnikov in the PBS presentation that has become an annual holiday event.
Our very first Clara, Liana Turner, a former student of Dance Conservatory, is now a member of the The Richmond Ballet, in Virginia, having relocated from State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara (CA). Sarah Moore, our 1998 Clara, has entered studies at the highest level of the Boston Ballet School. Andrea Emmons, who portrayed Clara in our 1999 and 2000 productions, continues her studies at Dance Conservatory and Dover High School.