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 :)