Lake Travis Area Students Dance in TexARTS Youth Ballet Theatre's THE NUTCRACKER This Weekend

The TexARTS Youth Ballet Theatre will present the beloved holiday favorite The Nutcracker at the St. Michael's Academy Gloria Del Gado Theatre, this weekend, Dec. 6 and 7.

Elke Boucher-Depew, a third-grader at Serene Hills Elementary, stars as Clara in this annual production, which is now in its seventh year. Nine-year-old Evan Paley will dance the title role of the Nutcracker Prince. Ashlyn Whiteside, a freshman at Vandergrift High School, will reprise her role as the Sugar Plum Fairy. They will be joined by special guests Chris Abramson as Drosselmeier and Truc Chi Tieu as Frau Stahlbaum. The cast features 44 young dancers, all who study ballet at TexARTS.

The Nutcracker is directed and choreographed by TexARTS Education Director Darren Gibson. Mr. Gibson has staged ballets for Richmond Ballet and Boston Ballet, and assisted Tony Award-Winner Ann Reinking with an original work for the American Ballet Theatre.

This charming ballet tells the story of Clara and her enchanted Nutcracker Prince as they embark on a magical journey to the Land of Snow and watch in delight as the Sugar Plum Fairy hosts a dazzling array of dances in the Land of Sweets.

The Nutcracker runs December 6 at 2pm and 6pm, December 7 at 2pm at St. Michael's Academy at the Gloria Del Gado Theatre. Tickets cost $15.00 and are available at tex-arts.org or by calling the box office at 512-852-9079 x101

TexARTS is a nonprofit arts organization that offers year-round classes in acting, voice, ballet, dance and visual arts as well as completely staged youth and professional productions. TexARTS is recognized throughout the region for its professional theatre and educational programs.

?Pictured: The TexARTS Youth Ballet Theatre Company. Photo by Karla Ent.

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