The world premiere of an all-new production of The Nutcracker, choreographed by American Ballet Theatre’s artist in residence Alexei Ratmansky, opens for a two-week run December 23 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Additional community activities are planned, including ABT at School: The Nutcracker Program, created for children in grades 3–6. Eight participating Brooklyn schools will each receive two in-school visits from ABT teaching artists, who will teach ballet basics and a sampling of Nutcracker-inspired choreography. Students will also attend a dress rehearsal of The Nutcracker.
“The Nutcracker is by far the most accessible ballet for children,” says Dennis Walters, ABT’s director of educational outreach. “There are so many elements that lend themselves to a child’s creativity and imagination.” Info: www.abt.org
Photo: ABT teaching artists demonstrate first position. (courtesy of American Ballet Theatre)