It's City Center Ballet's 16th Season!

And there is lots to look forward to!

Clara's Dream

City Center Ballet will present this holiday classic in a series of four performances at The Lebanon Opera House! Mark your calendars for December 4th-6th, 2014! Tickets are on sale now on the City Center Ballet website.

Alice in Wonderland

This year City Center Ballet will be presenting a new ballet based on Lewis Carroll's  Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. We are so excited to be presenting this magical tale to the Upper Valley Community on April 11th and 12th, 2015 at the Lebanon Opera House. Tickets are on sale now on the City Center Ballet website. If you're planning to attend both shows presented this year, season tickets are available. 

Peter and the Wolf

This year City Center Ballet will be offering it's third story ballet performance in schools across the Upper Valley. This educational outreach program brings the magic of City Center Ballet to you! Contact City Center Ballet at Dance@CityCenterBallet.org for more details about getting Peter and the Wolf  in your child's school!

What do CCB Dancers do during the summer?

Our dancers work very hard during the school year, but they continue that hard work throughout the summer. Lebanon Ballet School continues to offer a wide variety of classes all summer (both to challenge CCB dancers and classes open to the community), but many students choose to enrich their dance education by traveling to dance programs over the summer. Our students spent the winter carefully selecting and preparing for auditions at a variety of summer programs and we'd like to congratulate them on their accomplishments!

Washington Ballet

Lexie

Three students from Lebanon Ballet School and City Center Ballet were accepted and are attending this intensive program in Washington DC. Congratulations Maddie, Lexie, and Amy! We are looking forward to seeing everything you've learned when you're back in the fall. 

Amy

Maddie

Marya

Miami City Ballet

One of City Center Ballet's graduating Seniors, Marya, will be attending Miami City Ballet this summer before she heads off to Purchase College Conservatory of Dance as a member of the class of 2018. 

Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB!)

Several of City Center Ballet's dancers are off to the 5-week intensive program at CPYB. This has been an annual favorite summer program among CCB dancers and we are proud to have representatives at this program every year! Congratulations to Anna, Becky, Lara, and Amanda! 

Amanda 

Anna

Becky

Lara

Eden

Aya

The Rock School

Eden and Aya were accepted to this 3 week summer intensive program at The Rock School they will enjoy working in a variety of dance styles, including ballet, contemporary, jazz and hip-hop, and more. 

Zoe

Boston Ballet

Zoe will be attending the Boston Ballet Summer Intensive program where she will enjoy a weeks of comprehensive ballet training in classical ballet, pointe, partnering, and more. 

Burklyn Ballet

Sophia L.

Located conveniently in Johnson, VT, four of City Center Ballet's dancers are headed to Burklyn Ballet for the summer where they'll enjoy a comprehensive program focused on ballet technique and performance, they will rehearse and perform new work each week they are there. Congratulations Sophia L., Sophia P., Meredith, and Kassady!

Sophia P.

Kassady

Meredith

Interlochen Center for the Arts

Daniel

Daniel will be spending part of his summer in Michigan at Interlochen Center for the Arts, Interlochen is an Arts Academy focused on arts education throughout the year. Daniel will spend time  in ballet technique class, modern, jazz, as well as conditioning and repertory work. 

The Ailey School

Lily

Located in Manhattan, The Ailey School, founded by Alvin Ailey, offers a wide range of classes, focused on ballet and modern technique. one of the strongest contemporary performers in the City Center Ballet Company, Lily, will get to further explore different modern techniques from what she gets in her training at Lebanon Ballet School. 

Congratulations to all these Dancers! We'll miss you this summer, but are looking forward to exciting things in the fall! 

Why I support City Center Ballet

I got involved with City Center Ballet four years ago when I became a member of the faculty at Lebanon Ballet School, the school of City Center Ballet. There are many many reasons that I have chosen to give my support to City Center Ballet and their mission to provide professional-level performing experience for young dancers in the Upper Valley.

The youth involved in the City Center Ballet company have invested hours and days of their lives to mastering their craft. Most of the girls involved in the City Center Ballet Company have committed 4-8 hours a day, 6 days a week to this organization, in addition to keeping up with their academic work. The students that participate in these performances are bright and energetic and have developed such a deep relationship with dance that has become an integral part of their lives. Because I too have nurtured my own relationship with dancing over the last 24 years, since my mom enrolled me in that first pre-ballet class, I know that this is a passion that will follow them into their adult lives and continue to bring them joy.

The discipline that comes from learning to balance school and all those hours at the studio will allow these students to be successful in whatever they choose to do after City Center Ballet, whether it is dancing or not. These students have learned to do everything they do with passion and that while perfection may not always be achievable, if that is what they aim for they will be overwhelmingly successful in whatever they do. They have learned to be critical of themselves and to take criticism from others in stride, they have learned to rejoice in their own successes as well as the successes of their friends and colleagues, and they have learned that when things don't go their way that the best thing they can do is learn from their mistakes and apply the lessons they've learned until they find success.

City Center Ballet is more than a company that presents amazing performances for the Upper Valley community to enjoy, it is an organization that is nurturing young minds that will eventually go on to do many great things. I invite you all to join me in supporting City Center Ballet as they present The Sleeping Beauty this weekend at the Lebanon Opera House, tickets are for reserved seating and are available on this website. 

Two days until the curtain rises on The Sleeping Beauty

City Center Ballet is so excited to present The Sleeping Beauty to the Upper Valley community.  It has been several years since City Center Ballet has presented this ballet and it is back and completely refreshed! The costumes and set pieces have been gorgeously rebuilt and enhanced and the dancers are beyond excited to be presenting this ballet again.

Several professionals are joining the City Center Ballet cast on stage, don't miss this chance to see some absolutely stunning dancers in your backyard! Head over to the Lebanon Opera House website and purchase your tickets now, prices do increase the day of the show, and seats are filling up!

Plan a romantic evening out with your special someone, there are several excellent restaurants walking distance from the theater! Or plan a fun family afternoon, this classic ballet is such a fun story everyone can enjoy it!

Please remember to become a follower of City Center Ballet's blog to stay up-to-date on Company happenings and to get the inside scoop on the dancers, choreographers, guest artists, and upcoming performances!

Performances of The Sleeping Beauty are on Saturday, April 26th at 7pm and Sunday, April 27th at 1pm at the Lebanon Opera House.

What's in your dance bag?

It's school vacation week for most the schools in the Upper Valley, while many kids have gone on vacation or are getting some much needed R&R at home, the City Center Ballet company has been hard at work all week! They are just one week away from Opening Night, so I thought I'd swing by rehearsal today and check in with some of the girls.

Dancers are notorious for lugging around giant "dance bags" full of all kinds of useful items for class or rehearsal.  Most things are pretty routine, an extra leotard, tights, and maybe an old pair of shoes or two, a needle and thread, some hair products, and maybe a lip-gloss. However, most dancers have one or two unusual things in their bags that they just can't live without, for me it's one of my brother's old lacrosse balls...fantastic for keeping feet warm and loosening up inevitable foot-cramps. So I asked a few of the dancers what the strangest thing they keep in their dance bag is, and what they use it for...

Lily

Lily will be performing as The Sapphire Jewel, a nymph, and one of Aurora's Friends in The Sleeping Beauty.  Lily prefers to warm-up in big-baggy clothes, so she has stolen a lot of her brother's clothing, which may be one of the more unexpected things in her dance bag. She also keep a lighter in her bag...because you never know when you may need to burn the ends of some fraying ribbons.

Lexie -Soloist

Lexie appears as the Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty. If Lexie's bag doesn't contain unusual individual items, it certainly contains an unusual number of items; 4 chapsticks, a baseball, a tennis ball, several therabands, 4 pairs of pointe shoes, sweatpants, t-shirts, and a phone charger.

Kassady -Soloist

Kassady appears as the Crystal Fountain Fairy, The Ruby Jewel, a nymph, and one of Aurora's Friends in The Sleeping Beauty. Kassady keeps giant hershey kiss (or other form of chocolate) and a jar of peanut butter in her bag so she never goes hungary.

Check-out these dancers and many others on stage at The Lebanon Opera House on April 26th at 7pm and April 27th at 1pm in The Sleeping Beauty. Tickets are available here, seating is reserved and ticket prices go up $5 the day of the show, so buy yours soon! We'll see you at The Ballet!

Tutu Tuesday!

Happy Tuesday everyone! Excitement is growing for City Center Ballet's production of The Sleeping Beauty at The Lebanon Opera House on April 26th at 7pm and April 27th at 1pm (click here for tickets). This classic fairy tale, set to a stunning score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, follows the story of Princess Aurora, cursed by the evil fairy Carabosse at her christening to prick her finger upon a spindle on her 16th birthday and die. Thankfully, the Lilac Fairy, not having enough power to undo the evil curse, is able to alter it and instead of dying the princess will merely fall into a deep slumber.

This ballet is full of all the royal glitz you would expect from a story full of royalty, fairies and other magical creatures.  The story is a classic, the dancing is wonderful...but this is Tutu Tuesday...so lets get to the tutus!

The Lilac Fairy

The heroine of the story, overriding Carabosse's curse, she'll be hard to miss in this beautiful tutu designed and constructed by CCB's Elizabeth Lurie. 

Photo Credit: Marcella Jane Photography

Photo Credit: Marcella Jane Photography

 The Golden Vine

Appearing in the prologue to gift the baby Aurora with courage, the Golden Vine Fairy wears this stunning tutu was also designed and constructed by Elizabeth Lurie. Still under construction in the photo below, come see the finished product on stage!

Photo Credit: Marcella Jane Photography

The Meadow Rose

Appearing in the prologue, the Meadow Rose Fairy gifts Princess Aurora with the gift of charm. This Tutu was designed and constructed by Elizabeth Lurie.

Photo Credit: Marcella Jane Photography

The Woodland Glade

Appearing in prologue, the Woodland Glade Fairy gifts Princess Aurora with the gift of beauty. This Tutu was designed and constructed by Elizabeth Lurie.

Photo Credit: Marcella Jane Photography

Catch these tutus, and many others in just a few short weeks at the Lebanon Opera House! I hope to see you there!

See City Center Ballet at the HOP! For FREE!

The first half of 2014 is packed full of opportinities to catch the City Center Ballet crew at it again.  Clara's Dream - a nutcracker story was an amazing success, thank you a million times to all of our community supporters for coming out in droves to support City Center Ballet. We are so hoping you will join us for the ballets we're presenting this spring.

Your first opportunity to join us is at The Hopkins Center for the Arts at Dartmouth College on March 15th at 11am. A small cohort of City Center Ballet dancers will present an abbreviated version of Cinderella.  City Center Ballet presented Jennifer Henderson's full-length version of Cinderella in 2012.  This year, with the addition of Rob Royce to the artistic staff at City Center Ballet, we are thrilled to present his take on this classic tale to exhibit some of the younger company members. Many are familiar with the tale of Cinderella, a beautiful young girl forced to live under the rule of her step-mother and two step-sisters.  Cinderella, forced to stay home from the royal ball by her step-family, is surprised by her magical fairy godmother who summons the power of the four seasons to help Cinderella make it to the ball, you know the rest...the prince falls in love, the clock strikes mid-night, Cinderella runs away and looses her slipper in the process, the prince commisions an investigation to find the young lady who lost her slipper, the prince finds Cindreella and everyone lives happily ever after.  This performance is part of the HopStop Family Series designed for children age 3 and up accompanied by an adult...and the performance is FREE! Bring your family to see this story about how the right pair of shoes can change your life!

More information is available on the Hopkin Center website

In April, you can catch the full company in their performance of The Sleeping Beauty....more on that soon!

Which Performance of Clara's Dream Should You Go To?

While all performances are exciting, there are some things you might want to consider when deciding which show you'd like to attend. If your calendar is leaving you with a couple options for which day you see Clara's Dream - a nutcracker story, here are somethings to keep in mind about each show time.

Thursday, December 5th, 7:00 pm

Opening Night! For me, nothing quite beats the energy that performers have on opening night. Their legs are fresh, they've got a good flow of nervous energy going, and this often leads to just explosive amounts of energy on stage.  Opening night also happens to be a Thursday, so you can keep your weekend open for other activities. The show is just over an hour long, so you can be home and in your PJs by a reasonable time. If you want to grab dinner before the show at one of the many eateries walking distance from the theater, they won't be nearly as crowded as they would be on a Friday. 

Friday, December 6th, 7:00 pm

Some of the major roles in this ballet are double cast, so you'll still get that same first-show energy from many of the principal dancers.  That is not to say that you won't get energy from all the other cast members, but they won't be quite as nervous, having worked through some of their jitters the night before.  Plus, what better way to end your busy week than by relaxing at the ballet? Grab dinner before the show, or drinks after, make it a fun night out! Get a group of friends together, since it's an evening show, if you're looking for a nice, quiet, night-out there will probably be fewer children at this show than at the Saturday shows. 

Saturday, December 7th, 1:00 pm

This show is sure to be exciting, Because it's an early-afternoon show the audience will be full of families and children.  If you have kids, take advantage of Clara's Tea before the show, but tickets are selling out fast, get yours soon. Kids help create a really energetic audience, this fuels the dancer's performance. As a performer, there is no better feeling than performing for an audience full of kids, and as an audience member, you'll feel it too. Tickets for this show are selling really fast, so get yours soon!

Saturday, December 7th, 4:00 pm

The closing performance, similar to Opening Night, dancers kick it into high gear for this show to end the first half of the City Center Ballet season with a bang! And, like the 1 pm show, the audience will also be full of kids and families, further energizing the dancers.  There is also a Clara's Tea connected with this show, again tickets are selling fast, so don't wait to get them. By this show the dancers have really worked out any small kinks that came-up, and they are ready to give the show everything they have left.

So look at your calendar, and pick the show that best fits your theater style! Each show will be wonderful.  The cast has worked very hard to bring this production to a new level, so come out and support the Upper Valley's Ballet Company on December 5th, 6th, and 7th at The Lebanon Opera House!

Tickets for Clara's Dream- a nutcracker story can be purchased on the Lebanon Opera House website  or by calling the Box Office at (603)448-0400.  Read this post for information on group ticket pricing. Get your tickets soon for preferred seating! Tickets for Clara's Tea can be purchased on the City Center Ballet website, tea tickets include tickets to the show following the tea.

**Note that as of 11/22/2013 Tickets to Clara's Tea for the 1pm show are SOLD OUT, there are still a few tickets left to Clara's Tea for the 4pm show**

I'll see you at the ballet!

Win Two Tickets to Clara's Dream-a nutcracker story

City Center Ballet is giving away two tickets to Clara's Dream - a nutcracker story for the Thursday evening performance. There are a couple ways you can enter to win! First, share a story about one of your family's holiday traditions in the comments section of this post for one entry. Then share this post on facebook for a second entry, To share, head over to the City Center Ballet Facebook page and share the status containing this post with your facebook friends! It should be fun to hear some stories from our reader and their friends!

There are so many unique family traditions, for everyone at City Center Ballet Clara's Dream has become a wonderful tradition, dancers and their families look forward to it every year.  For many community members in the Upper Valley attending Clara's Dream and/or Clara's Tea has become a tradition as a magical start to a busy holiday season.

We are looking forward to hearing your holiday stories, Ticket winners will be drawn on December 1st, for two tickets to the Thursday, December 5th performance of Clara's Dream - a nutcracker story at 7pm at the Lebanon Opera House.

Don't forget to "Like" City Center Ballet on Facebook!

Doing Double Duty...Meet 2013's Dewdrop Fairies and Snow Queens!

This year two dancers share the roles of The Snow Queen and The Dewdrop Fairy.   The Snow Queen reigns over the pine forest, she and the Snow King help begin Clara and The Nutcracker Prince on their journey out of this world and towards the mystical Land of  Sweets. To make Clara's journey more magical she leads a flurry of snowflakes in The Waltz of the Snowflakes as they cover the forest floor in a blanket of snow, and send Clara and her Nutcracker Prince on their way.

After all the countries in The Land of Sweets have performed for Clara and The Nutcracker Prince a beautiful bouquet of flowers emerge followed by the oh-so-sparkly Dewdrop Fairy, dressed in a beautiful costume constructed by City Center Ballet's own Elizabeth Lurie, she floats through rows of flowers as they dance in The Waltz of the Flowers. The Dewdrop Fairy lives among the flowers, frolicking as they sway around her, this piece builds on the excitement of the day for Clara and her Nutcracker Prince, building to the climax of the second half of the ballet when The Sugar Plum Fairy emerges to perform with her Cavalier. Two of City Center Ballet's Principle dancers share these roles that provide guidance and excitement for Clara's journey through her dream.

Beltrami Photography

Jesse

This is Jesse's first year performing with City Center Ballet, she appeared earlier this year as a Wili in Giselle in May and September.  A professional, Jesse has performed with The Charleston Ballet, Ballet Theater of Maryland, and BalletFlemming. This fall Jesse joined the teaching staff at Lebanon Ballet School, the school of City Center Ballet. 

Jesse is looking forward to working with her friend Justin Koertgen in the pas de deux as The Snow Queen and finally getting to dance her favorite role as The Dewdrop Fairy.
As a new resident of the Upper Valley Jesse's favorite thing to do when she is not dancing is spending time with her husband and two dogs exploring the area.
Jesse's favorite thing about Clara's Dream - a nutcracker story is starting a new nutcracker tradition with her new ballet family.

You can catch Jesse as The Dewdrop Fairy on Thursday at 7pm and on Saturday at 4pm, she will be performing as The Snow Queen on Friday at 7pm and Saturday at 1pm.

Madi

Madi is a Senior at Hartford High School in Hartford, VT. This is her 6th season dancing with City Center Ballet. Past notable roles with City Center Ballet include The Fairy Godmother  in Cinderella, Arabian and Marzipan in Clara's Dream - a nutcracker story, and Peasant Pas in Giselle. Madi first appeared with City Center Ballet as a mini Garland and Lilac Fairy Attendant in The Sleeping Beauty.

Madi most looking forward to dancing to her favorite music as The Snow Queen and dancing a new role as The Dewdrop Fairy in Waltz of the Flowers.

 Madi's favorite thing to do when she is not dancing is watching the Boston Bruins.

Madi's favorite thing about Clara's Dream - a nutcracker story is the variety of roles she has had the opportunity to dance. 

You can catch Madi as The Dewdrop Fairy on Friday at 7pm and on Saturday at 1pm, she will be performing as The Snow Queen on Thursday at 7pm and Saturday at 4pm.

Tickets for Clara's Dream- a nutcracker story can be purchased on the Lebanon Opera House website  or by calling the Box Office at (603)448-0400.  Read this post for information on group ticket pricing. Get your tickets soon for preferred seating! Tickets for Clara's Tea can be purchased on the City Center Ballet website, tea tickets include tickets to the show following the tea.

**Note that as of 11/22/2013 Tickets to Clara's Tea for the 1pm show are SOLD OUT, there are still a few tickets left to Clara's Tea for the 4pm show**

Clara's Dream, How did we get here?

Just in case you haven't gleaned by now, Clara's Dream is City Center Ballet's take on The Nutcracker. The Nutcracker, a two-act ballet, which worked its way into American ballet companies as a holiday classic, and most often an annual tradition, in the 1960's, was first performed in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1892. The original choreography was by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov set to the famous score by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky.  The most famous piece in the score is the Dance of The Sugar Plum Fairy, which was the first piece of music ever written, and possibly still the most famous, that used the celesta. The Nutcracker is based on the story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King written by E.T.A. Hoffmann.

Historically this ballet begins at the home of Dr. Stahlbaum, his wife, his daughter Clara, and his son Fritz are preparing to host a Christmas party.  Their guests arrive and everyone celebrates with lots of dancing and parents distribute gifts to children.  Suddenly Heir Drosselmeyer, Clara's Godfather, arrives with the life sized dolls he has created and magically animated, all the guest settle in for a magical puppet performance. When the performance is over Drosselmeyer puts the dolls away, disappointing Clara and Fritz, until he surprises the two children with a little carved man made to crack nuts! Clara falls in love with the little nutcracker doll, and shows his wonderful nut-cracking abilities to all the guests at the party.  Never to be out-done, Fritz waits for an opening and steals the doll, which, as most brothers will, he then breaks. Clara is devastated, she bandages up the nutcrackers broken little jaw.  Soon after that the party is over and all the guest leave, Clara tucks her injured doll in for the night and goes reluctantly to bed.

This is where Clara's Dream begins, you can read the rest of the story here.

There are many versions of The Nutcracker, ballet companies often put their own twist on the story to pull in some local history. Modern dance companies, like The Mark Morris Dance Company, have their own versions of The Nutcracker.  Mark Morris's The Hard Nut sets the story in a graphic-comic book  out of the retro 1960's, inspired by Charles Burnes. Contemporary musicians have also put their own twists on Tchaikovsky's famous score.  Duke Ellington jazzed-up The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy in his song Sugar Rum Cherry.  The Trans Siberian Orchestra has their own Rock version of the score called A mad Russian Christmas.

City Center Ballet is proud of it's family-friendly one-act version of The Nutcracker.  Clara's Dream - a nutcracker story keeps the wonderful excitement of The Nutcracker while it condenses it into one, hour-long act, with no intermission, to keep even the smallest children engaged in the performance. This will leave everyone in the family with a pleasant experience at the ballet. You and your family will be sure to leave humming Tchaikovsky as visions of sugar plums dance in your head!

Make City Center Ballet's take on The Nutcracker part of your family's tradition this year.  Tickets for Clara's Dream - a nutcracker story are on sale now on The Lebanon Opera House website or by calling the Box Office at (603)-448-0400. Performances are Thursday 12/5 at 7pm, Friday 12/8 at 7pm, and Saturday 12/7 at 1pm and 4pm.  Advanced pricing and reserved seating are available, so get your tickets soon!

**Note that as of 11/22/2013 Tickets to Clara's Tea for the 1pm show are SOLD OUT, there are still a few tickets left to Clara's Tea for the 4pm show**

I'll see you at the ballet!

The 2013 Sugar Plum Faries!

The iconic role of The Sugar Plum Fairy in Clara's Dream- a nutcracker story is shared by two, more than deserving, young ladies in 2013. Marya and Maddie have both danced lead and title roles with City Center Ballet in the past, but this will be both of their first performances as The Sugar Plum Fairy. The Sugar Plum Fairy is the queen of The Land of Sweets. She welcomes Clara and the Nutcracker Prince to her land after they bravely defeat the Rat King and Journey through the snow in The Pine Forest. The Fairy asks the sweets to dance for Clara and her prince to thank them for defeating the evil Rat King.  Once each of the countries has performed The Sugar Plum Fairy herself, along with her Cavaliere dance a beautiful pas de deux to conclude the night.  Also, look for a post later about the fabulous tutu that was crafted by City Center Ballet's very talented costume designer!

Beltrami Photography

Maddie

Maddie has performed with City Center Ballet for 5 seasons.  She is a Junior at Lebanon High School.  Past notable roles include Dew Drop and Marzipan in Clara's Dream-A Nutcracker Story, Myrtha in Giselle, a Winter Fairy in Cinderella, and solo appearances in many Corps de Ballet pieces.
Maddie's first role with City Center Ballet was as a Dwarf in Cinderella in 2009.
Maddie will also appear in Clara's Dream- a nutcracker story as a snowflake in Waltz of the Snowflakes and Marzipan.Maddie is most looking forward to working with Andre Teixeira on pas de deux work, something that is totally new to her. She is excited to take on this new and exciting challenge.
Maddie's favorite thing about being The Sugar Plum Fairy is working in a character that is very different from things she's done in the past. It's refreshing but also very technically challenging. (Oh and of course, getting to wear the gorgeous new tutu made by Mrs. Lurie!)

Beltrami Photography

Marya

Marya has performed with City Center Ballet for 6 seasons.  She is a Senior at Hanover High School. Past notable roles include Arabian, Marzipan, and Clara  in Clara's Dream- a nutcracker story, Giselle in Giselle, Cinderella  in Cinderella, and solo appearances in many Corps de Ballet pieces. 

Marya's first role with City Center Ballet was as a Mini-Garland in The Sleeping Beauty in 2007.

Marya will also appear in Clara's Dream- a nutcracker story as Marzipan and a Snowflake.

Marya is most looking forward to the challenge of such an iconic role as Sugar Plum. 

Marya's favorite thing about being The Sugar Plum Fairy is the beautiful music in the pas de deux and, of course, the tutu and tiara :)

Clara's Dream - a nutcracker story

So there have been many references to Clara's Dream on this blog already, but what's the story?  Because there is no talking in ballet, it's usually a good idea to have a basic understanding of the story you're about to see before attending the performance, this makes it easier to understand what is happening on stage so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the performance.

Clara's Dream- a nutcracker story is City Center Ballet's adaptation of The Nutcracker, however they have tightened up the story to fit it into one act to maintain the attention of younger children.  The Nutcracker is a Christmastime story, and attending this ballet annually grows into a tradition for many families, so City Center Ballet has gone that extra step to make this ballet even more family friendly.

Here's an outline of what will unfold on stage at The Lebanon Opera House on December 5th, 6th, and 7th, 2013:

The curtain rises on a sleeping Clara, a young girl whose family just hosted a Christmas Party, she had a long day and has fallen asleep in an arm chair. It had been an exciting day full of treats and sweets and lots of merry dancing.   Her Godfather, Heir Drosselmeyer, was a surprise guest at the party. Drosselmeyer, a magician and toymaker, brought gifts for all the children in attendance. Drosselmeyer presents Clara with a carved nutcracker doll, which she cherishes immediately. As the curtain rises Clara awakens and rises to check on her new nutcracker doll, Heir Dorsselmeyer appears and performs some magic on the nutcracker.  Suddenly, something begins to happen, either Clara and Drosselmeyer are shrinking or the entire living room is growing, and then Clara's Nutcracker appears to have come to life! But wait, something is not right, Clara's now gigantic living room has filled with giant mice with a Rat King as their leader! Magically, toy soldiers emerge from under the Christmas Tree and a battle between The Nutcracker and the Rat King, and their minions ensues. Clara is terrified, suddenly it seems the Rat King is about to defeat her Nutcracker! In a moment of quick thinking Clara distracts the Rat King, who is then quickly killed by her Nutcracker. 

Victorious, Clara's Nutcracker transforms into a Prince and escorts his heroine away.  Outside in a pine forest near Clara's home  it begins to snow, the King and Queen of the Snow dance as Clara and her Prince enter the forest.  Suddenly it begins to snow harder and a group of Snowflakes dance gracefully around Clara and her Prince.  Eventually the Snow King and Queen emerge again and guide Clara and her prince on through the forest. 

Clara and her Prince arrive in the Land of Sweets and are greeted by The Sugar Plum Fairy and a group of angels, they are so thankful that Clara helped to defeat the Rat King, they present her with gifts and show Clara and her Prince to a throne. Then, the Pastry Chefs arrive to delight their eyes with treats and sweets from around the world.  First come the hot beverages, Hot Chocolate from Spain, Arabian Coffee, and Chinese Tea, then suddenly Russian Candy Cane Dancers emerge from Fabergé Eggs, Marzipan from Denmark arrives on a beautiful cake, Finally the Pastry Chefs, from Germany, dance for Clara and her Prince. Suddenly a beautiful  string of flowers arrive, and Waltz of the Flowers  begins, staring The Dewdrop Fairy.  To conclude the performance The Sugar Plum Fairy  herself, escorted by her Cavaleir, perform a dance, to some of the most iconic music from the ballet. 

All the sweets from all the countries come together for one final dance to usher Clara and her Prince out of their land. Clara wonders, did this really happen, or was it all just a wonderful dream?

Tickets for Clara's Dream- a nutcrracker story can be purchased on the Lebanon Opera House website  or by calling the Box Office at (603)448-0400.  Read this post for information on group ticket pricing. Get your tickets soon for preferred seating! Tickets for Clara's Tea can be purchased on the City Center Ballet website, tea tickets include tickets to the show following the tea.

**Note that as of 11/22/2013 Tickets to Clara's Tea for the 1pm show are SOLD OUT, there are still a few tickets left to Clara's Tea for the 4pm show**

Meet the Resident Choreographer!

Beltrami Photography

Jennifer Henderson, the Resident Choreographer, or Maker of Magic, for City Center Ballet, is the brains behind a lot of the beauty that happens on stage. Jennifer began choreographing with City Center Ballet in 2008 when she choreographed City Center Ballet's production of Cinderella. Since then Jennifer has added Clara's Dream- a nutcracker story and Coppélia to her repertoire.  In 2013 Jennifer also undertook setting Giselle, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa, on the City Center Ballet Company.

Jennifer's choreography is beautiful to watch, it is clear that every phrase is carefully planned to build on the previous phrase.  Dancers move seamlessly from one formation to another.  Larger group pieces are full of "wow"moments.  It is clear that in planning choreography Jennifer has a clear view of the big picture.

In Clara's Dream- a nutcracker story watch for moments in Snow and Waltz of the Flowers where it becomes clear that these classic Corps de Ballet pieces were carefully planned to give the illusion of a swirling snow shower or flower petals blowing through a meadow. All 8-10 dancers suddenly appear on stage in a pattern, which transforms before your eyes into something completely different in a few seamless counts in the music.  In fact, these stunning transitions often yield a round of applause from the audience. To get the best view of this careful pattern planning, pick a seat near the front and center of the balcony.

Tickets for Clara's Dream- a nutcracker story can be purchased on the Lebanon Opera House website  or by calling the Box Office at (603)448-0400.  Read this post for information on group ticket pricing. Get your tickets soon for preferred seating!

Have you heard about Clara's Tea?

Tables full of Tea Party goodies to delight everyone
and get you into the holiday spirit before the show!

Clara's Tea is a wonderful tradition that has grown with City Center Ballet's Clara's Dream-a nutcracker story.  This event is organized every year with a lot of hard work from the City Center Ballet staff and volunteers (Thank you dancer parents!). Monies raised from this event feed directly back into the company to pay for costumes, lights, scenery, props, and yearly maintenance for all those things essential to the day-to-day functioning of our not-for-profit company. This year Clara's Tea is on Saturday, December 7th at 11:30 am (before the 1 pm performance) and 2:30 pm (before the 4 pm performance).

Clara's Tea takes place at Lebanon Ballet School, the ballet school
 of City Center Ballet. It sells out every year, get your tickets soon!

Clara's Tea is an opportunity for kids to meet some of the cast members of Clara's Dream, enjoy some tea (or juice) and little goodies before the show! It's a little bit like Disney's Character Breakfast! Kids can ask the dancers about their rolls, and get their photo taken. Let your children dress-up and enjoy High-Tea before an experience at the ballet. This is the ultimate theater experience, and a rare opportunity to get photos with some of the dancers in costume!

Let the City Center Ballet Pastry Chefs make your Tea Party with Clara a fabulous experience!

Tickets for Clara's Tea can be purchased on the City Center Ballet website, the ticket price for Clara's Tea includes a ticket to the Clara's Dream-a nutcracker story performance immediately following The Tea.  All Tea attendees are given prime seating at the Lebanon Opera House.  Tickets sell out every year...Get yours NOW!

Affordable Entertainment! (read for info on a group ticket discount!!)

Let's talk money...briefly. Ballets are inherently expensive productions, there's no way around it.  Between costumes, set-pieces, lights, lighting designers, stage crew, choreographers, directors, theater fees and bringing in some professional dancers the expenses quickly add up.  City Center Ballet is lucky to have many, many volunteers who help dilute some of the costs that would be associated with costumes, set building, etc. But the materials alone are a significant expense.

When I was younger I remember sitting around the theater during the tech - week for my youth-company's production of The Nutcracker. One of the other dancers had been outfitted in a brand-new costume and was patiently sitting in the auditorium watching some of the stage crew working on the scene where the Christmas tree grows.  Well, the director of the company spotted her sitting in that costume and came marching over and yanked her out of the seat. All of the dancers in the vicinity were about to receive a stern talking-to! The director asked us to guess how much that costume our friend had been so casually lounging in cost, $300? $400? $600? "No!" said the director "That costume cost $1500, you will probably never own garment that expensive, well maybe not until you buy a wedding dress." We were all shocked, but it stuck. And now just imagine outfitting several dozen dancers in costumes that compare in price to a wedding dress! Like I said ballets are expensive!

These Snowflake costumes from Clara's journey through a pine forest to The Land of Sweets even resemble wedding dresses

The finale to Waltz of the Flowers, the Dewdrop costume (center) was newly constructed in 2012, look for some exciting new costume additions this year too!

However, City Center Ballet works very hard to raise funds in ways that help them pass a minimum amount of those expenses on to their Upper Valley audience! This year Adult tickets purchased in advance are just $16.50 and Children 12 & under are $11.50. BUT WAIT! Because it is City Center Ballet's 15th Season if you are buying tickets for a group of 15 or more people you can take advantage of a 15% Discount! That means tickets are just over $14 for Adults and just under $10 for Children 12 & Under! Purchase group tickets early to ensure that your group gets seated together!

Get a group from your office, book club, yoga class, neighborhood, or school together to enjoy this fantastically affordable performance!

You can purchase tickets on the Lebanon Opera House Website or by calling the Box Office at (603)448-0400. **For Group Ticket pricing, please call the Box Office**

I'll see you at the Ballet!

Wilis, Sylphs, and Fairies, OH My!

You might just get to see these magical ballet creatures come out for some Trick-Or-Treating at the Powerhouse Mall from 4pm to 6pm on Halloween (Thursday 10/31). Bring your little monsters to meet some of City Center Ballet's characters! Past years have featured, Cinderella, her Fairy Godmother and Evil Stepsisters, Aurora and some of the Fairies that visit her, The Sugar Plum Fairy and dancers from the countries visited in Clara's Dream-a nutcracker story, and many other characters from City Center Ballet productions. Who will be there this year?

A line-up of City Center Ballet dancers passes candy to eager Trick-Or-Treaters 

City Center Ballet dancers helping to fill the bucket of a Powerhouse Mall Trick-Or-Treater

Linda Copp, Artistic Director of City Center Ballet, accompanies her granddaughter, dressed as Little Bo Peep, to the City Center Ballet candy stop.

If you have not participated in the trick-or-treating at the Powerhouse Mall, this is an Upper Valley event not to be missed! First, it's indoors, stay warm and don't fight about that parka ruining your child's carefully planned costume. Second where else can your child be delighted by the whimsical planning from all the shops in the mall, as well as special additions like the dancers from City Center Ballet!


Trick-or Treating at the Powerhouse Mall is free and open to the public, put it in your calendar now, you'll thank me later!

We're a Hoot!

Actually, City Center Ballet has won The Complete Hoot's Owl Award for "Outstanding Community Dance Performances" for their 2012-2013 Season performances of Clara's Dream-a nutcracker story and Giselle.  Congratulations to the cast and crew of both these outstanding productions!

The Complete Hoot's Awards ceremony was on Sunday, October 20th in White River Junction, VT.  They gave awards to several local arts organizations in the Vermont and New Hampshire Upper Valley Region. Awards were given in almost 30 categories spanning Music, Theater, Dance, Art, and Community Outreach.  City Center Ballet is honored to have won the award for Community Dance Performances for the fourth year in a row and to be honored among so many outstanding arts organizations in the community.

Here is a link to The Complete Hoot's Website, and here is their description of how winners of Owl Awards are chosen:

"The Owl Awards recognize and celebrate achievements in the arts in the Upper Valley for a given arts year, September to September.  Nominations are made by our readers and the top five-six are then listed in each category for the final voting.  Final voting is done through both the readership and e-mail contacts of The Complete Hoot."

Congratulations also go to Lebanon Ballet School, the ballet school of City Center Ballet, for their Owl Award for Outstanding Youth Dance Education! Congrats to the 2012-2013 teaching staff, guest teachers, and the amazing students who make teaching fun!

Fundraiser!!!

On Saturday, October 19th, 2013 City Center Ballet has a fundraiser at Margarita's Mexican Restaurant located in Centerra Marketplace in Lebanon...this is super easy! Go enjoy a meal with friends and/or family at Margaritas and present your server with the voucher below before 5:30pm...that's it, then City Center Ballet will get 15% of your bill as a donation from Margaritas!

Remember City Center Ballet is a Not-For-Profit semi-professional student company, every penny they get contributes to performance experience for Upper Valley youth in Vermont and New Hampshire.  The youth-members of City Center Ballet gain valuable experience from every performance.

Hope to see you at Margaritas!!

Welcome!

Welcome to the brand-new City Center Ballet Blog! City Center Ballet, a not-for-profit semi-professional ballet company, is the Upper Valley's premier ballet company located in the heart of Lebanon, NH. The 2013-2014 season, City Center's 15th season, is well underway.

We kicked this year off with an exciting performance of Giselle at the Lebanon Opera House on September 20th and 21st, the performance was spectacular and the story of Giselle's epic love for Albrecht brought tears to the eyes of many. Our season continues with Clara's Dream-a nutcracker story at the Lebanon Opera House December 5th, 6th, and 7th (tickets can be found here).  In April 2014 City Center Ballet is very excited to be bringing The Sleeping Beauty to the Upper Valley, performances are April 25th, 26th, and 27th at the Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon, New Hampshire! Mark your calendars now!

We are very excited to start this blog where we can share facts and trivia about our favorite ballets, fun anecdotes about City Center Ballet, profiles of our local and professional talent, sneak peeks of performances, and opportunities to interact with the City Center Ballet dancers at local events, with the Upper Valley Community of Vermont and New Hampshire!

We're quality ballet in your backyard!