With a set that once graced the stage of the Royal Ballet in London, the timeless ballet “The Nutcracker” returns this weekend for its sixth holiday season at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center.LPPACS dance majors Kelsi Curtis, Sara Lavin, Jakob Brannen and Carissa Lange are principal dancers in the show.
The set for several scenes, according to Gavan Pamer, is “a stunning design by David Walker, built for the Royal Ballet and brought to us by Ballet Memphis. It’s a much larger and grander version than scenic elements we’ve had in past years.”
Pamer, artistic director at the Center, said this production of “The Nutcracker” is directed and choreographed again this year by Jennifer Verba, dance curriculum coordinator and dance teacher at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School.
“We have such a wonderful group of dancers, all of whom have grown in their dance training so much over the past year. They are spectacular and have been a joy to work with,” said Verba.
Produced by the Center and lavishly staged and costumed to Broadway standards, “The Nutcracker” will be performed in two evening shows Friday and Saturday, Dec. 14 and 15, at 7:30 p.m., and two matinees Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 15 and 16, at 2 p.m. Good seats are still available for shows Friday and Saturday; the Sunday matinee is sold out. Tickets are $20, $15 and $12, and may be purchased online at www.lppac.org, and through the box office in person, or by calling 724.643.9004.
Dancers in the four principal roles this year all are students at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School.
The part of the Sugar Plum Fairy is danced this year by Kelsi Curtis, who portrayed Clara in last year’s production. Curtis is a senior from Bulger, Pa.
Carissa Lange, a junior from Moon Township, Pa., will dance as Clara this year. Jakob Brannen, a junior from Pittsburgh, for the third year will dance as the Nutcracker Prince. Sara Lavin, a senior from Coraopolis, Pa., dances as the Snow Queen.
“Snow Queen is the largest role that I have played in a Lincoln Park production and it is such an honor. I am truly enjoying dancing the role,” said Lavin.
The ballet is adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann’s story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.” Set to the music of Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky, it tells the Christmas Eve story of a young girl named Clara and the coming-to-life of a solemn toy soldier nutcracker. PRINCIPAL DANCERS:
Jakob Brannen is a junior dance major at LPPACS and a member of National Honor Society, International Thespian Society, secretary of the Ballroom Dance Club, and president of National Honor Society of Dance Arts. This summer Jakob will be attending the Rock School of Dance. His Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center performances include White Christmas, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, POP! (and the Art of Dance), Ensemble Immersion, The Nutcracker (2011, 2010), Beauty and the Beast, Peter and the Wolf (Peter), Stardust, and Anything Goes. LPPACS shows include Senior Themes and Senior Dance Choreography Projects.
Kelsi Curtis is a senior dance major at LPPACS, a member of National Honor Society and National Honor Society for Dance Arts. Kelsi is a national dance title holder and has participated in USA gymnastics for five years. Last seen in White Christmas, she has performed in many productions including POP! (and the Art of Dance), Beauty and the Beast, three years of The Nutcracker, Peter and the Wolf, Stardust, Ensemble Immersion, Shall We Dance?, and Senior Choreography Projects. She studies at Pittsburgh Pro Performance Center.
Carissa Lange is a junior dance major at LPPACS, and attends after school dance classes at The Dance Conservatory of Pittsburgh. She was last seen in Love ‘Em or Leave ‘Em, the LPPACS Jazz Pop Concert, where she was featured in the song “At Last.” She also appeared in Hail! Hail! Rock n’ Roll and Love in POP! (and the Art of Dance). Carissa is a member of the LPPACS Dance Team, Ensemble Immersion, and is a majorette in the Moon Area Marching Band.
Sara Lavin is a senior dance major at LPPACS, is president of Student Council, president of NHS, vice-president of NHS for Dance Arts and is a member of Ensemble Immersion. She played Rhoda in White Christmas and was Virtue in Anything Goes, was Enchanted Object, Wolf and Dance Captain in Beauty and the Beast, and Nancy and Dance Captain in How to Succeed…. Sara’s credits include the Center’s Stardust, Shall We Dance?, POP! (and the Art of Dance), 2009-2011 The Nutcracker, and the 2010-2011 LPPACS Senior Choreography Project.
