Ballet Chelsea will be performing excerpts of the Nutcracker. Courtesy | Facebook
Hillsdale’s Dawn Theater will premiere “Scenes from the Nutcracker” Sunday, Dec. 1, at 3:30 p.m.
“We will have an abridged version of the Nutcracker,” Chair of Friends of the Dawn Theater Mary Wolfram said. Ballet Chelsea will present the ballet, but seven students from Hillsdale Tower Dancers will perform in the “Tea” and “Marzipan” numbers. This is the Tower Dancers’ first time performing with Ballet Chelsea, according to Assistant Professor of Dance Holly Hobbs.
Sophomore Moriah Mitchell will perform as a Chinese Tea dancer. She said she has been dancing in productions of “The Nutcracker” since she was 11.
“I have never done this specific part before, but I’ve seen many different versions of it,” Mitchell said. “I love dancing this role because it has high energy.”
Mitchell said her dream is to dance professionally after graduation and is thankful for the opportunity to dance with Ballet Chelsea.
The only performance is the Sunday matinee, Wolfram said. Admission is free, but Wolfram said tickets must be reserved. Email marybwolfram@gmail.com or call 810-844-1396 to reserve a ticket.
“Last year was our first performance of ‘Scenes from the Nutcracker,’” Wolfram said. “We are happy to be able to present it again this year thanks to a grant from the Hillsdale County Community Foundation, along with support from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.”
Sophomore Ariel McDowell will dance as a Marzipan demi-soloist and said her favorite part of the performance is the “piqué fouetté arabesque.”
McDowell said she is grateful to perform, especially since she missed her last performance of “The Nutcracker” due to COVID-19 exposure in 2020.
“I’m so excited to perform with Ballet Chelsea. They are so great to give us a chance to dance with them,” McDowell said. “‘The Nutcracker’ is just the epitome of delightful, as either a dancer or an audience member. The music is gorgeous, and the dancing is tremendously fun.”
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