#Middlebury #BCB #BrassCityBallet #Nutcracker
Alexandra Koulouris, left, and Deanna Pietrorazio, right, share the role of Sugar Plum Fairy in this year’s performance of “The Nutcracker.” Both are from Middlebury. (Deamore Photography photo)
Brass City Ballet (BCB) will present its 21st annual production of “The Nutcracker” Saturday, Dec. 16, at 5:30 pm, and Sunday, Dec. 17, at 2 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center Mainstage Theater of Naugatuck Valley Community College at 750 Chase Parkway in Waterbury, Conn. BCB is a nonprofit dance school and semiprofessional ballet company located at 1255 Middlebury Road in Middlebury, Conn.
Advance sale tickets for this family favorite are $25 for adults and $18 for seniors, children 18 and under. Purchase tickets online at Tututix.com or call Tututix at 1-855-222-2849 until noon on Saturday, Dec. 16. Tickets will be sold at the door the days of the performances for $35 for adults and $25 for seniors and children 18 and under.
Year after year, the classical ballet, “The Nutcracker,” brings holiday delight to families across America. It is a very special time of year for the dance schools and companies who bring this classic to the stage. Every performer looks forward to the cast list going up, and after posting, eagerly assesses the new roles awarded. Each new part signifies and rewards the progress a dancer has made over the span of a year.
Livia Sarnelli of Naugatuck dances the role of Clara, shown here, on Dec. 16, and Gabrielle Harris of Middlebury will dance it on Dec. 17. (Deamore Photography)
The littlest ones, at age 5, start as Gumdrops running out from under Mother Ginger’s skirts or Mice doing battle with the Nutcracker Soldier. They may aspire one day, by age 14 and 17, to be Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy. It is a long journey, and along the way come many life lessons and skills.
For dancers, there is nothing more rewarding than going out on stage to share with the audience their commitment, discipline and love for dance. It is evident in their smiles, and audiences at Brass City Ballet’s productions always take note of the warm welcome they receive.
This year, the role of Clara will be performed by Livia Sarnelli of Naugatuck on Dec. 16 and Gabrielle Harris of Middlebury on Dec. 17. Hannah Jensen of Watertown will dance the role of Snow Queen, while Samantha Austin of Waterbury will perform as the Dew Drop Fairy as well as the Rat Queen.
Alexandra Koulouris and Deanna Pietrorazio, both of Middlebury, share the role of Sugar Plum Fairy. Koulouris will dance the role Saturday, Dec. 16, and Pietrorazio will perform it Sunday, Dec. 17.
Brass City Ballet holds a toy drive at each performance, collecting new, unwrapped presents that will be donated to children at St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury. BCB dancers, dressed in costume, will deliver the toys to the children in person.
Brass City Ballet, partially sponsored by individuals, corporations, foundations and the Office of the Arts of the State of Connecticut, offers recreational and pre-professional dance classes in classical ballet, hip-hop/jazz, modern dance and yoga at its Middlebury studios, serving students ages 3 to adult with year-round enrollment. For more information, call Brass City Ballet at 203-598-0186 or visit www.brasscityballet.org.
You must be logged in to post a comment.