St. Mary School Students in "The Nutcracker" with NYC Ballet Stars

New York Dance Theatre Concludes 50th Anniversary Celebration with Return of Beloved Production of “The Nutcracker”

Students from the St. Mary School in East Islip Perform Alongside New York City Ballet Stars Daniel Ulbricht and Erica Pereira

New York Dance Theatre Performances December 21 and 22 at Hofstra University’s John Cranford Adams Playhouse

New York Dance Theatre will present its 42nd season of “The Nutcracker” at Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY on Saturday, December 21 and Sunday, December 22 with performances each day at noon and 5 p.m.

The 42nd season of “The Nutcracker” wraps up the company’s celebration of its 50th anniversary on Long Island. Executive Artistic Director and NYDT alumna Nicole Loizides explains, “This year has been about celebrating our roots and expanding the reach of the company and the Ohman School of Ballet, also marking a milestone at 45 years.”

Three students from the St. Mary School in East Islip will share the stage with New York City Ballet stars Erica Pereira (a Long Island native) and Daniel Ulbricht. Libby Barker, Sandy Grace Monastère, and Hunter Payent are dancers at the Ohman School of Ballet in Commack, New York Dance Theatre’s training school. In the opening Christmas Party Scene, Libby performs as a one of the children attending the party, Sandy Grace performs as one of the dancing dolls, and Hunter is one of the grandchildren attending the party. The students perform in the Battle Scene, Sandy Grace as a mouse and Libby and Hunter as soldiers fighting the Mouse King and his army of mice. In the Land of Sweets, Hunter is a “Guardian Angel” in the Land of Sweets, welcoming Clara to meet the Sugarplum Fairy while Sandy Grace is a Candy Cane.

NYDT founder Frank Ohman (1939-2019), a former student and soloist under George Balanchine, set his staging after his mentor’s iconic Lincoln Center version, and the production includes the original Sugarplum Fairy Pas de Deux from George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker ® by permission of the George Balanchine Trust as well as costumes and props gifted by Mr. Balanchine. In addition, Ohman created original dances and scenes that set his production apart from others on Long Island.

New York City Ballet soloist Erica Pereira and principal dancer Daniel Ulbricht return to perform as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier in all performances. Mr. Ulbricht also serves as an artistic advisor for the Ohman School of Ballet, a division of New York Dance Theatre, and has been a recurring master class instructor at the school. Joseph J. Simeone, whose credits include City Center’s “A Chorus Line” and Susan Stroman’s Degas-inspired “Little Dancer” at the Kennedy Center, joins NYDT this year in the role of the mysterious Herr Drosselmeier.

With the elegant Christmas Party Scene, the drama of the magical growing Christmas Tree, the Battle of the Toy Soldiers and Giant Mice, the live snowstorm, and the brilliant dancing in the Land of the Sweets, “The Nutcracker” appeals to all ages. In all, a cast of 80 children, pre-professional and professional dancers will bring this classic story ballet to life on the stage of the John Cranford Adams Playhouse. The children’s roles are performed by students of the Ohman School of Ballet in Commack and the School of American Ballet (the home school of New York City Ballet). A semi-immersive pre-show experience returns to the theater this year that invites audience members into the Silberhaus home before the curtain rises, with the sights, smells and sounds of the Christmas Eve party that is the setting for the ballet.

Tickets for this full production ballet range from $33 to $50, including discounts for seniors and children 12 and under, available at www.NYDanceTheatre.org or 631.462.0964. Group discounts are available for 15 or more tickets in a single show and $25 for Scout troops (ordered by phone and with Scout ID). Photo opportunities are available for matinee shows at additional cost and included for Scout troops and large groups. Additional details are on the website. A small portion of ticket sales goes to New York Dance Theatre’s Developpé program introducing dance to at-risk youth, foster families and children in need through workshops, classes, performances, mentors and scholarships in a partnership with North Shore Kiwanis Club, Hope for Youth Long Island, Mommas House and Options for Community Living. New York Dance Theatre has donated 100 tickets for families in need to enjoy this holiday production.

About New York Dance Theatre

New York Dance Theatre marked its 50th year in 2024. Founded by New York City Ballet soloist Frank Ohman with the blessing of his mentor, New York City Ballet co-founder George Balanchine, the company is currently under the artistic direction of NYDT alumna and former Momix principal dancer and choreographer Nicole Loizides, whose production work includes the Sochi Olympics. In its 50th year, NYDT continues to present studies and performances of works by Balanchine and Antony Tudor with repetiteurs from the Balanchine and Tudor Trusts. The company partnerships include organizations focused on at-risk youth opening up scholarships to children in need and offering opportunities to experience live performances.

About the Ohman School of Ballet

The Ohman School of Ballet was founded in 1979 by Frank Ohman (1939-2019), former soloist at New York City Ballet (NYCB) and is currently led by Executive Artistic Director Nicole Loizides, herself an alumna of the school. Located in Commack, in 2024 the school celebrated 45 years serving as a training ground for promising young dancers and offering aspiring students the opportunity to learn classical ballet in the style passed down from George Balanchine to his protégé, Frank Ohman. OSB is a non-competition, non-recital school, focusing on proper classical ballet technique. A division of the New York Dance Theatre, Inc., the Ohman School has become an integral part of the company and is one of the very few not-for-profit ballet schools in the region. It offers three studios with state-of-the art flooring to Balanchine specifications and a highly qualified teaching staff. Artistic advisors for the school include New York City Ballet principal Daniel Ulbricht and retired New York City Ballet principal Ask la Cour, who served as Artistic Director of the school following Frank Ohman’s passing, as well as former Dance Theatre of Harlem principal Da’Von Doane and Toledo Ballet Artistic Director Eric Otto.