WHAT THE DICKENS! Opens with CYDP And David Drummond Tribute

Cambridge Youth Dance Program (CYDP) and Producing Director Deborah Mason Dudley present a contemporary dance with a holiday twist, WHAT THE DICKENS!, for six performances December 14 - 17, 2017 at Boston University Dance Theater, 915 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston.

Now in its ninth season, Broadway veteran Leslie Woodies directs the highly acclaimed CYDP dancers in an enchanting original production which tells Charles Dickens' classic holiday tale A Christmas Carol through the interweaving of classical ballet with tap, hip-hop, and more surprises.

Performances are Thursday at 7:30 pm, Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 2:00 pm (a special performance in honor of David Drummond) & 7:30 pm, and Sunday at 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm.Tickets are $30 (students/seniors/BDA) - $35. For more information and tickets visit, cydp.org or the direct link is https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3103869.

WHAT THE DICKENS! is a great show for the family, both affordable and intimate. New this year, Boston Ballet alum Clyde Nantais (pictured) will make his debut as Ebenezer Scrooge, an exciting collaboration with the youth of Artists for Humanity to create the illustrations for the scenic projections, and the Saturday matinee performance will honor ballet master and Deborah Mason Performing Arts Center teacher David Drummond.

With narration by Boston Herald Sports writer Steve Buckley, the amazing roster of guest artists includes Stella Jacobs/Past Ghost, Sonali Sikder/Present Ghost, Yosi Karahashi/Future Ghost, Jenny Oliver/Mrs. Cratchit, and Ryan Casey/Mr. Cratchit. With original choreography and concept by David Drummond, other choreographic contributors include Ian Berg, Ryan Casey, Khalid Hill, Deborah Mason, Rocky Mendes, Jenny Oliver, Jeryl Palana Pilapil, and Leslie Woodies.

The creative design team includes lighting designer Kayleigha Holten, sound Mateo Gold and scenic illustrations by the youth from Artists for Humanity.

"WHAT THE DICKENS! provides the aspiring dancers in the CYDP dance company an opportunity to work with professionals in the industry, and to perform in an evolving theatrical production. Above all, we love the dance's positivity, and themes of empathetic humanity and the message of kindness and inclusion," Mason says. "That is the message we want to keep sending."

CYDP is a supportive network which provides multiple opportunities for dancers and the community. Transcending the notion of "pre-professional training," CYDP uses dance as a platform to increase self-esteem, focus, teamwork, and creativity. CYDP opens its auditions to boys and girls, ages 10-20. Once accepted, students place into appropriate levels based on performance and focus; all new and returning dancers must audition for the company each year.

Many CYDP dancers are mentored and supported throughout the audition process by CYDP staff. Many have gone on to professional careers appearing in music video with Janet Jackson and Beyonce among many others. They have also appeared in major tour productions from EVITA to BILLY ELLIOT to major motion pictures. For more information on CYDP alumni visit www.cydp.org.

FULL WHAT THE DICKENS! CAST (TOWN)

Clyde Nantais/Ebenezer Scrooge (Boston), David Gabriel/Young Scrooge (Beverly), Asmud Erickson /Boy Scrooge (Medford), Alisi Ishii/Scrooge Sister (Cambridge), Alexandra Celona/Scrooge Sister (Malden), Abby Cohen/Past Love (Arlington), Fridien Tchoukoua/Marley (Boston), Stella Jacobs/Past Ghost (Somerville), Sonali Sikder/Present Ghost, Yosi Karahashi/Future Ghost (Cambridge), Jenny Oliver/Mrs. Cratchit (Boston), Ryan Casey/Mr. Cratchit (Lexington), Lena Ishii/Tiny Tim (Cambridge), Alex Cataldo/Cratchit Child (Cambridge), Tyler Cataldo/Cratchit Child (Cambridge), Sophie Carey/Cratchit Child (Arlington), Lettie Carswell/Cratchit Child (Arlington), Atticus Chapman/Cratchit Child (Concord), Jazzy Harris/Cratchit Child (Cambridge), Marcella Longo/Cratchit Child (Cambridge), Mili Medwed/Cratchit Child (Cambridge), Al Pirani/Cratchit Child (Belmont), Kyeleah Waterman/Cratchit Child (Cambridge), Oliver Slayton/Scrooge Nephew (Brookline), Gabriella Celona/Nephew Wife (Malden), Maisy Branch/Salvation Army (Cambridge), Isabella Febbo /Salvation Army (Cambridge), Ruby Flaherty/Salvation Army (Cambridge), Emma Hirsch/Salvation Army (Somerville), Ashlee Mason/Salvation Army (Canton), Anna Tils/Salvation Army (Newton), Katie Tsai/Salvation Army (Andover), Lucy Emerson /Angel (Cambridge), Isabella Pagani/Angel (Lexington), Mae Pirani/Angel (Belmont), Juliana Vandermark/Angel (Cambridge), Jackson Clayton/Fezziwig (Arlington), Fiona Connelly/Mrs. Fezziwig (Boston), Ndu/Beau (Boston), Grace Clemente/Barn Dancer (Cambridge), Lara Calais/Barn Dancer (Arlington), Emma DeJesus/Barn Dancer (Somerville), Mathilde Kaldi/Barn Dancer (Cambridge), Roni Kirson/Barn Dancer (Cambridge), Morgan Nerich/Barn Dancer (Cambridge), Tamsen Peralta-Virtue/Barn Dancer (Boston), Annie Ramsdell/Barn Dancer (Cambridge), Jahnae Williams/Barn Dancer (Cambridge), Amira Ayaz/Swing Dancer (Cambridge), Milena Campos/Swing Dancers (Everett), Madi Crozier/Swing Dancer (Winthrop), Hannah Park/Swing Dancer (Newton), Gaya Shechter /Scrooge/Pink Lady/Midwife (Belmont), Jade Farrell/Pink Lady/Midwife (Malden), and Ih'san Ellis/Pink Lady/Midwife (Cambridge).

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