Photos: Assembly Combines Whaling, Ballet

Faculty and volunteer ballerinas from the Eastern Connecticut Ballet School visited Oakdale Elementary School last week and will visit 13 elementary and middle schools in the next month to preview their upcoming performance of The Nutcracker.

Each ballet company usually adds its own twist to the performance and ECB is no different.

"That's our twist, is the whaling city of New London," said Marylu Clark, a faculty member at the school. Clark said there are nautical-themed props, sailors and the father in the play is a whaler.

The in-school preview and lessons are sponsored by a grant from the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut and will be presented to selected classes in Groton, Montville, Waterford, New London and East Lyme.

The Nutcracker will be performed at the Garde Arts Center on Dec. 10 at 1:30 and 7 p.m. and on Dec. 11 at 1:30. For tickets and information call the at (860) 444-7373 or visit https://tickets.gardearts.org/show.asp