Young Hauppauge Dancer in "The Nutcracker" with New York City Ballet Stars

New York Dance Theatre's Beloved Production of "The Nutcracker" Returns

Special Guests Include New York City Ballet Stars Brittany Pollack and Daniel Ulbricht

Young Hauppauge Dancer Norah Li Makes Her Debut

Performances December 20 and 21 at Hofstra University’s John Cranford Adams Playhouse

New York Dance Theatre will present its 43rd season of “The Nutcracker” at Hofstra University’s John Cranford Adams Playhouse on Saturday, December 20 and Sunday, December 21 with performances each day at noon and 5 p.m.

New York City Ballet soloist Brittany Pollack and principal dancer Daniel Ulbricht return 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, returns to NYDT in the role of the mysterious Herr Drosselmeier.

The cast includes young dancers who train at the Ohman School of Ballet, including Norah Li of Hauppauge, who makes her Nutcracker debut as a little girl in the opening Party Scene and a baby mouse in the Battle Scene.

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. The ballet is directed by NYDT executive artistic director and NYDT/Ohman School of Ballet alumna Nicole Loizides Albruzzese.

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).

“In our sixth decade of dance on Long Island and our 43rd season of The Nutcracker, New York Dance Theatre welcomes families to join us for a performance that is more than a ballet,” explains Ms. Loizides Albruzzese. “We hope to capture the spirit of the season of giving with our community partners helping us bring the arts to broader audiences.” 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 in the lobby. Students from the Long Island High School for the Arts music program in Syosset will perform as part of this experience before each show. 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, NOSH Delivers!, and Options for Community Living. New York Dance Theatre has donated 100 tickets for families in need to enjoy this holiday production.

Tickets for this full production ballet range from $33 to $55, including discounts for seniors (65+) and children (12 and under), available at www.nydancetheatre.org or 631.462.0964. Group discounts are available for 15 or more tickets purchased for a single show and $25 for Scout troops (ordered by phone and with Scout ID) and assisted living facilities. Photo opportunities are available for matinee shows as an add on to tickets and included for Scout troops and group sales. Additional details are on the website.

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. NYDT continues to present studies and performances of works by Balanchine and Antony Tudor with repetiteurs from the Balanchine and Tudor Trusts. The company’s 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.