The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Nutmeg Ballet looks back at 2018
TORRINGTON — As the Nutmeg Ballet approaches its golden anniversary in 2019, here are some of the highlights from 2018.
January: Nutmeg contracts
⏩ with noted theatrical designer Roger LaVoie, of Boston, to create a design for a completely new stage set for Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker,” staged every Christmas season at The Bushnell in Hartford and the Warner Theatre in Torrington. Roger meets with key members of Nutmeg’s faculty and administration in January and agrees to take on the task.
February: Joan Kunsch and ⏩ Tim Melady, audition tour codirectors, return from separate trips to 35 major cities in the United States and Canada, auditioning and recruiting young dancers to study with Nutmeg’s world-renowned instructors and choreographers. Many of these students appear in Nutmeg performances in 2018.
March: IMPACT 2018 showcases ⏩ new and seasoned dancers from Nutmeg and Torrington School of Ballet, performing to music by Tchaikovsky and Bizet. A special live performance at IMPACT 2018 by local jazz ensemble JINQS features arrangements of works by Thelonius Monk and John Coltrane. The program is choreographed by Eleanor D’Antuono; Alexei Tchernichov; Denise Warner Limoli; Kirk Peterson; Kate St. Amand; and Victoria Mazzarelli, Nutmeg’s artistic director.
April: Nutmeg and Torrington ⏩ School of Ballet participate in a “Minds in Motion” event at the Litchfield High School, sponsored by the Connecticut Association of the Gifted.
May: JINQS performs at ⏩ Nutmeg’s graduation ceremonies at the Warner Theatre, when 11 students graduate. Nutmeg is also included this month in a tour of Torrington’s art venues by officials from the Connecticut Office of Tourism.
June: Intensive summer ⏩ workshops feature the talents of more than 80 young students, including a significant increase in male dancers.
July: An open-air evening of ⏩ dance, “Ballet & Broadway,” raises money for Nutmeg and the Warner Theatre, thanks to
the generosity and hospitality of Adrian and Maggie Selby, of Litchfield. Nutmeg students dance to excerpts from “The Nutcracker” and other works.
August: Students from the ⏩ Summer Apprentice Program perform at Nutmeg’s Premier Studio at the Nutmeg Conservatory.
September: Denise and Michael
⏩ Limoli join Nutmeg as full time faculty. Nutmeg welcomes students to the start of its 201819 Year-Round Program, with orientation for the dozens of dancers from local towns and states throughout the nation. At the end of the month, Nutmeg and TSOB hold auditions for about 100 young dancers for its annual “Nutcracker” production. October: Continuing a long
⏩ tradition, Nutmeg students perform at Coe Park during Torrington UNICO’s annual Columbus Day ceremonies. November: Roger LaVoie’s ⏩ design of a new set for “The Nutcracker” is revealed during a Business After Hours networking event at the Nutmeg Conservatory. Business After Hours is sponsored by the Northwest
Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, which holds it at a different member location monthly. On this occasion, Torrington Savings Bank announces it is giving $25,000 to kick off a fund-raising campaign to help pay for the new “Nutcracker” set.
Also in November, dancers perform at Lux, Bond & Green in West Hartford and at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford to kick off the holiday season.
December: Some 1,500 students
⏩ from the Torrington Public School system attend a special abridged version of “The Nutcracker” at the Warner Theatre, thanks to a Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation grant provided by the Carlton D. Fyler and Jenny R. Fyler Fund. At this year’s final performance at the Warner, the 22-year-old set designed by Campbell Baird is retired, and longtime volunteer caretaker of the set, Chuck Lautz, is honored on stage for his service.
Also in December, Nutmeg is Charity of the Month at Litchfield’s Saltwater Grille, 26 Commons Drive, Litchfield, 860-5674900. Call now to reserve a table and the restaurant will donate 10 percent of your check to the Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory. On Friday and Saturday, this applies to lunch only.
“The Nutmeg is honored that so many incredible organizations in the area continue to invite us to perform for them. It’s definitely a learning experience for everyone involved. Giving back is what it’s all about,” Mazzarelli said.
Sharon E. Dante, Nutmeg’s founder and director, said that about 9,000 people this year enjoyed Nutmeg’s “Nutcracker” performances. Since 1996 when Nutmeg first produced that Christmas classic, nearly 200,000 people have experienced its magic. She added, “Looking back, it is hard to believe next year we will be celebrating 50 years since I opened my small dance school on Migeon Avenue, and it has grown to become an internationally acclaimed academy of dance. The Nutmeg has grown where it was planted.”
For information, visit nutmegconservatory.org.