MMAC Presents THE KNICKERBOCKER SUITE

Manhattan Movement & Arts Center presents The Knickerbocker Suite on December 15 and 16 at 7:30pm and December 17 and 18 at 7pm at the Manhattan Movement & Arts Center, 248 W. 60th Street, NYC (between Amsterdam and West End Avenues). Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students. Tickets are available by visiting manhattanmovement.com/calendar.

The Knickerbocker Suite features New York City landmarks, such as The Statue of Liberty, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and NY sports teams, weaved into the time-honored holiday tale of The Nutcracker. Classic Nutcracker scenes like "The Land of the Snow" will be transformed to a snowy frenzy of shoppers dancing in and out of stores like Macy's and Bloomingdale's for last minute gifts, while "The Land of Sweets" will be accompanied by street vendors and roasted chestnuts. Perhaps one of the more well-known scenes, "Mother Ginger and her Polichinelles," will be played by the Statue of Liberty and dancing immigrants who just arrived from Ellis Island.

Presented by: Rose Caiola and MYB
Created by: Elliott Arkin and Rose Caiola
Based on a story by: Elliott Arkin
Verse written by: Charlie Finch and Elliott Arkin
narrated by: Michael Cerveris

Featuring a new set design from Adam Koch, a backdrop photo project form Erin Baiano, and a battle scene using shadow puppetry, the visual elements in The Knickerbocker Suite are striking. Choreographed by Manhattan Youth Ballet Artistic Advisor, Daniel Ulbricht (New York City Ballet) and Nick Kepley (currently performing on Broadway in Mary Poppins).

Manhattan Youth Ballet Holiday Bazaar
In advance of the The Knickerbocker Suite, Manhattan Youth Ballet will be holding a holiday bazaar on Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11. Students and parents will be selling homemade crafts, drawing, and baked goods. All proceeds will go to The Knickerbocker Suite and cast members will be on hand.

About Manhattan Youth Ballet
Modeled with an emphasis on European classical ballet, Manhattan Youth Ballet (MYB) offers world class training in a nurturing environment focused on discipline, precision and artistry. MYB is the culmination of Ms. Rose Caiola's effort for the past fifteen years to create a viable and curriculum-based ballet academy in Manhattan in order to serve the needs of the multifaceted community. Principal members of the faculty have received their training in schools such as the School of American Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and the Kirov Ballet. The faculty strives to bring out the individual potential of each student with an emphasis on artistry as well as technique to create truly versatile dancers for the current dance world. Education is a top priority at Manhattan Youth Ballet and the school has numerous community outreach programs to promote dance education. Since moving to its new home at Manhattan Movement & Arts Center in September 2008, over 2,500 New York City school children have participated in lecture demonstrations and/or been MYB's invited guests at full-length performances. For more information, visit www.manhattanyouthballet.org.

About Manhattan Movement & Arts Center
Manhattan Movement & Arts Center was developed by Rose Caiola as the home of the Manhattan Youth Ballet, a graded, pre-professional ballet academy and performance company. Ms. Caiola, a former dancer and actress, founded the academy in the fall of 1994 as Studio Maestro at 48 W. 68th Street, and today serves as the youth ballet's executive artistic director.

The school is modeled after the European academies. The Manhattan Youth Ballet has acquired a reputation for excellent teaching in an intimate and individually supportive environment. The school's graduates have danced professionally with American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater, Ballet de España, San Francisco Ballet and Complexions.

As the ballet academy grew, the search for a larger space inspired in Ms. Caiola a highly personal vision of a studio and theater complex that would encompass all aspects of dance education and performance.

mmac opened its doors in June 2008, occupying a dramatic bi-level space within The Element, a luxury high-rise condominium. In addition to the Manhattan Youth Ballet, mmac's studios and theater host daily adult dance and fitness classes, the mmac Kids program, summer intensive programs, as well as an array of performances and special events.

For more information about mmac, visit www.manhattanmovement.com.