‘Nutcracker’ Ballet set to enchant audiences
The Hot Springs Children’s Dance Theatre Company will present “The Nutcracker” with performances at 7 p.m. Nov. 24-25 and Dec. 1-2, and a matinee at 1 p.m. Nov. 25 and Dec. 2. All performances will be held at LakePointe Church, 1343 Albert Pike Road
Magical toy soldiers, sparkling snowflakes, mischievous mice, and all the enchanting inhabitants of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s whimsical world return to Hot Springs for the upcoming winter holidays. The Hot Springs Children’s Dance Theatre Company is the first organization to give the Hot Springs community the opportunity to participate in its own production of “The Nutcracker” ballet, a news release said. It features both the regional performers that have gone on to successful professional careers and the professional classical ballet performers from throughout America’s mainstream arts community and children of all levels of talent who are interested in the theater arts.
The 2017 season will bring in two featured principal guest artists, Deanna Karlheim Stanton and Zeek Wright, for this year’s “Nutcracker” performances. The Hot Springs Children’s Dance Theatre has the primary goal of giving young people of all ages and levels of skill an opportunity to experience the art of theater and dance alongside these guest professional performers while also learning from choreographers, directors, and set designers in an environment conducive to inspire artistic growth and interest in theater arts.
Artistic director Edmond Cooper grew up locally, studied dance and theater, and went on to pursue and achieve a professional career nationally with Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet Arizona, and the Southwest Ballet. He has performed principle and soloist roles in classical ballets which included “Petrushka,” “Swan Lake,” “Coppelia,” “Giselle,” and “The Nutcracker.” Ballets by George Balanchine include “Scotch Symphony” and “Allegro Brillante.” Cooper is a nationally recognized, award-winning choreographer and has been a featured guest artist with regional and professional ballet companies for many years. He has choreographed specifically for many original opera works and companies nationally including Stewart Copeland’s world premiere presentation of his original full length contemporary opera, “Holy Blood and Crescent Moon.”
The Hot Springs audience will delight in the performances by guest artist Stanton, a native of Clarksville, Md., and Wright, originally from Amarillo, Texas, while they are ushering in the finale of the ballet by performing the virtuoso roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier.
Stanton began dancing in her hometown in Maryland and credits her early training to Katherine Healy, Valentina Kozlova, Troy D. Brown, Winnette McGovern and her time spent at the Baltimore School for the Arts. She graduated with a BFA in Ballet from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music, where she studied under Jiang Qi and Deirdre Carberry. During this time, she was also a trainee with Ballet West for two seasons. Since joining Ballet Arkansas, she has had the opportunity to perform various roles, including a principal role in Balanchine’s “Who Cares?”, Jumping Girl in Gerald Arpino’s “Birthday Variations,” Val Caniparoli’s “Lady of the Camellias Act 1 Pas de Deux,” Greg Sample’s “Rerouting,” Kiyon Gaines’ “Bolero,” and “The Dying Swan.” Stanton has made several guest appearances, most recently in Hot Spring Children’s Dance Theatre Company’s “Cinderella” and North Star Ballet’s “The Nutcracker.”
Wright received his degree in Ballet Performance and Business at the University of Oklahoma. He has also trained at Juilliard, Boston Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, and Ballet West on full scholarship. He joined Ballet Arkansas after spending last season as a member of Ballet West II where he was featured in Ballet West’s production of John Cranko’s “Romeo and Juliet” as King of the Carnival.
General seating tickets are $10 for students and $20 for adults, and preferred prices are $15 for students and $30 for adults.
Visit http://www.hscdtc.org or call 501-655-6815 for more information or tickets.