‘The Nutcracker’ set for Nov. 15 at Enmax

LOCAL DANCERS TO PARTICIPATE IN MOSCOW BALLET PRODUCTION

The spectacular Moscow Ballet’s performance of “The Great Russian Nutcracker” will take over the Enmax Centre next week.

One of the new additions to “The Nutcracker” is The Dove of Peace to the second act, and local dancers from Joy’s Dance Factory will perform with the professional Russian dancers.

The 34 all-Russian cast brings the most athletic dancers and acrobatics to audiences on their twomonth, 200-show tour across North America. Akiva Talmi, Moscow Ballet’s American producer, says there are many additions to the show that have never been previously seen.

“The biggest peace advocacy ballet tour ever, the show features the acrobatic dove duet unique to Moscow Ballet,” says Talmi of the show set for Nov. 15.

“There are six new oversized puppets, there is a Chinese fire bird of peace which is 20 feet wide that spreads her wings and takes Clara to the land of peace in China. There is a giant bull that takes Clara to the land of peace in Spain. There is a bear, elephant and most unique a unicorn which are 15-feet-tall handmade puppets, operated by ballet dancers that have never been seen in the world. They are quite enormous and are really beautiful.”

The Dove of Peace is a multicultural symbol of purity and peace which is embraced by Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It is also the central theme of the Moscow Ballet’s Nutcracker.

The Christmas spectacular helps bridge cultures so all may coexist in peace and harmony. The dove also brings a fresh variation to the already rich traditional Nutcracker show. Talmi says the dove act is a peace offering between countries in the midst of conflict.

Along with the show, the Moscow Ballet developed the “Dance with Us” program which gives 9,000 children from Canada and the United States the opportunity to perform with the worldclass dancers and ballerinas, by auditioning them for parts in the show.

“These children carry the torch of peace,” says Talmi. “Nine thousand children from 130 cities across Canada and the United States performing to 300,000 patrons presenting 200 shows join the Moscow Ballet’s Dove of Peace tour in a quest for peace. The arts can make a difference.”

New Horizons, another community engagement initiative, is an education program that immerses children in the Russian culture and teaches them the meaning behind “The Great Russian Nutcracker” through dancing, language lessons and a craft sessions where participants create origami Doves of Peace.

Tickets are available at the Enmax Centre, or online at