Urban Dance Connection has teamed up with Stage West School of Performing arts to bring the holiday classic The Nutcracker to Campbell River this holiday Season.
Dancers ages 5 and up from UDC in Campbell River and Stage West in Port Alberni have been brought together by studio Directors Jen Soo Bodnar and Juli Martell to bring The Nutcracker to both communities for the Holiday Season.
Guest director and Choreographer, Geraldine Potter has been working with both studios since August to put this show together. In addition to working with Potter, whose experience includes professional tours in Europe and time with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the dancers have also had the pleasure of working with Dustin Carnie on this show.
Carnie is originally a UDC dancer, and has recently returned from training with the Goh Ballet for several years. Carnie will be performing in the show as the Nutcracker Prince and in the Russian Dance.
The role of the Sugar Plum Fairy will be performed by Kei Hirozane. Hirozane is a professional dancer and graduate of Ballet Victoria. Getting to dance alongside professionals has been an inspiration for all of the dancers involved.
The dancers will also be performing on stage with the Campbell River Children’s Choir.
Musical Director, Jennifer Abbott, and the Choir will add much holiday spirit to the show.
Bodnar and Martell are both thrilled with what this project has brought to their studios. They and their dancers usually only meet up at competitions, so to be working on a project like this together has been a fantastic experience for both the dancers and the instructors. They hope to make this a holiday tradition in both Port Alberni and Campbell River for many years to come.
The Urban West team performed their Nutcracker in Port Alberni on Nov. 28 and they are now so excited to bring it to the Tidemark Theatre on Dec. 12.
There is a 2 p.m. and a 7 p.m. performance. Tickets are available at the Tidemark Theatre box office.