Ridgefield School Of Dance To Perform Holiday Classic Nov. 17

**News Release Submitted by Ridgefield School of Dance**

Nov. 4, 2024

A timeless tradition ushers in the winter holiday season when The Ridgefield School of Dance presents The Nutcracker on Sunday, November 17, at 1 pm, at Ridgefield High School. The Nutcracker will be followed by Hit ‘Play,’ a performance by the Jazz Department with original choreography by Stevi Van Meter and Jamie Rae Walker. Tickets are on sale at theridgefieldschoolofdance.com and will be available at the door.

The Nutcracker, featuring the beloved music of Tchaikovsky and the innovative and clever choreography by artistic director Jessica Boelts, is a joyful holiday tradition for the Ridgefield community.

The ballet includes the youngest of dancers all the way up through seasoned pre- professional ballerinas. The dancers will take the audience on a journey from a Victorian holiday party with magical life-sized dolls to the young Clara’s dream where toy soldiers come alive and battle mice, the majestic rat queen and her entourage. A blizzard of snowflakes sweeps everyone off to the magical Land of the Sweets to be welcomed by the Sugar Plum Fairy, Peppermints, Gumdrops and other delightful treats.

Dancing the part of Clara, a young girl discovering the magic of Christmas, is Brianna Martini, a sixth grader at John Jay Middle School in South Salem, N.Y. In their final Nutcracker with The Ridgefield School of Dance are Wilton resident Lauren Minor as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Ridgefield’s Alexandra McCausland as Coffee. These seniors also present the elegant Waltz of the Snowflakes with the PreProfessional Division, including Ridgefield’s Allegra Groth, Zoe Keenan, Bella Locatelli, Lily Skirkanich and Allie Bouleris who will also perform the role of Dew Drop. Korey Tuttle as Herr Drosselmeyer will be joined on stage by Greg Bouleris and Dan McCausland as party parents.

“A fantasy-filled ballet, the Nutcracker is a holiday tradition and our mid-November presentation is a fun way to welcome the holidays,” said Alison Brown, director of The Ridgefield School of Dance.

The Ridgefield School of Dance is at 66 Grove Street, Ridgefield. For tickets or information, www.theridgefieldschoolofdance... or call 203-894-5957.