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JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Clara will once again dream of her prince as the holiday classic ballet “The Nutcracker” is brought to life on an area stage.
Performances will be presented by the Johnstown Concert Ballet at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center on the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown campus in Richland Township.
Eden Ihrig, the company’s executive artistic director, said “The Nutcracker” has become a Johnstown tradition.
“(Johnstown Concert Ballet founder) Carla (Prucnal) did a really good job of making ‘The Nutcracker’ absolutely unique to us, and it’s beloved in the Johnstown community,” Ihrig said. “It’s something that we need to continue because the area expects it and looks forward to it. It’s something that we’re proud to have here. We’re lucky to have something like this in a small town.”
Ihrig said “The Nutcracker” becomes a part of the dancers.
“They love it and live for it,” she said. “It brings them joy and peace at this time. It kicks off the holiday season for these dancers, so it’s a wonderful thing for them.”
Ihrig said some of the choreography and costuming has been modified to give it a fresh look for audiences.
“The pas de deux the Claras do with the prince is almost entirely changed, and there’s a lot more dancing for the Claras,” she said.
“For the Candy Cane dance, we changed the costumes, so there’s dance with the original choreography that Carla set, but tweaked a little bit to fit the new costumes. For the most part, it’s the beloved tradition that Carla created many years ago. We’re just re-staging it.”
Ihrig said people continue to be drawn to “The Nutcracker” because it’s such a magical ballet.
“It has drama and a little bit of comedy, and there’s many aspects to it that anyone at any age can love ‘The Nutcracker,’ ” she said. “I think there’s something inside all of us to love magic. There’s nothing like seeing the dolls and the Nutcracker come to life on the stage.”
This year, company alumni have been invited to take part in the ballet’s party scene.
“It’s wonderful to have them be a part of this and share in the memories and experience the joy,” Ihrig said. “It’s great to see the family that the Johnstown Concert Ballet is and always will be.”
The coveted role of Clara will be performed by Lucia Niida, a sophomore at United High School, and Alana Respet, a seventh-grader at United High School.
“They have been working so hard, and at this point, they are in the studio probably more than they are with their families,” Ihrig said.
“They have really embraced it.
“They are overjoyed to be doing this and getting their dream of performing the role of Clara.”
Pittsburgh dancer Cole Sears will dance the role of the prince.
Chase Bennethum landed the comedic role of Fritz, Clara’s brother.
Professional dancers from Pittsburgh will have some of the principal roles.
They include Audrey Kauffman, Sugar Plum Fairy; Ernest Tolentino, Drosselmyer; and Jailen Riley and Demarion Thomas, coffee/spice dancers.
Father Christmas will be portrayed by John Barnes.
Other roles will be danced by members of the community.
Female guests are Maryann Ackman, Jeanne Arcurio, Abigail D’Arrigo, Alexandra D’Arrigo, Haidee Errett, Brittany Hutchinson, Heather Mack, Eileen Pears, Ivy Peterman, Karen Soliday, Samantha Stevanus and Tiffany Taha.
Male guests include Isaac Berkey, Jeff Boback, Damian Byer, Kamal Gella, Jay Kycko, William Marsh, Nathaniel Mikula, Troy Smajda, Basil Taha, Alan Teich, John Wozniak and Ray Zwick.
Senior company members are Lena Bennethum, Ava Berkey, Josie Hill, Meradi Knapp, Helena Kycko, Taylor Ling, Haley Mosorjak, Hazel Peterman, Regan Reynolds and Emily Thompson.
Junior company members include Mackenzie Kendig, Angelica Marsh, Senya Malcolm, Jordyn Oherrick, Abigail Graham, Addison Greenwell, Jocelyn Furdella, Laci Hutchinson, Maggie Krotzer, Havana Kycko, Emerson Manges, Raeleigh McKool, Saige Myers, Margaret Zajdel, Lillian Kendig, Aurora Krupa, Adeline Lokesak, Emma Mack, Elizabella Stevanus, Peyton Hutchison, Evah Capouellez, Leia Carrick, Lena Costlow, Sophia Mundy, Leyton Smalley, Aubriella Stevanus, Kenley Vizi and Elaina Wilbur.
Ihrig said the dancers have been working tirelessly to present top-notch performances.
“We have a small company and many of the younger dancers are in multiple roles,” she said. “They are knocking it out of the park and doing it with ease. They all are evolving into wonderful dancers, and we’re seeing so much growth.
“They’ve put so much work into this and we’re proud of them.”
Ihrig added that audiences who see the shows will be impressed at the quality of performing arts in Johnstown.
“We hope people will sit back and enjoy the beloved tradition, but we also want to reach out more to get people to attend our spring performance and see what else we and Johnstown have to offer,” she said.
Tickets are $22 and can be purchased by calling 814-536-7599 or online at www.johnstownconcertballet.org.
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