Six Guest Artists Set for Connecticut Concert Ballet's NUTCRACKER

Connecticut Concert Ballet has been providing an enchanting Nutcracker to the greater Hartford area for decades. The current production varies from recent shows in one very exciting way. This year, audiences will be treated to an extra large cast of six Guest Artists; Azamat Asangul Uulu, Katie Moorhead, David DuBois, Kristy DuBois, Darren McIntyre and Rebecca DeNies. Five of the six dancers are national and international professionals with the sixth being a homegrown success. Dancer bios are below.

Azamat and Katie will be performing in all shows as Snow Cavalier and Snow Princess. They are coming to Hartford after performing at the Rosecliff Mansion in Newport, Rhode Island with the Island Moving Company, a very unusual and renowned version of the Nutcracker.

Married dancers David and Kristy DuBois perform the first weekend as the Nutcracker and the Sugar Plum Fairy bringing their real-life love to the stage. Darren McIntyre and Rebecca DeNies perform the same roles the following weekend with Darren also coming off of the Rosecliff Nutcracker production.

Artistic directors Wendy Fish-Lawrence and David Lawrence are determined to meet CCB's dual mission of being both a ballet school and an important performing arts organization for the area. To do so, they are bringing these top caliber dancers to entertain audiences in Greater Hartford . The expertly trained CCB students also get the exposure of dancing on stage with the best, improving on their already well known stage presence.

These special guests will perform with 230 of Connecticut Concert Ballet's talented local students. Performances will be held at the Bailey Auditorium at Manchester High School, 134 Middle Turnpike East in Manchester, Connecticut. Dates are:

Saturdays December 12th and December 19th at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.;

Sundays, December 13th and December 20th at 2:00 p.m.

Advance Ticket Prices: Preferred Front & Center Seats $35; General Admission: Adult $25, Child/Student/Senior $15. Tickets are available online at www.connecticutnutcracker.com or in person at Dance Village, 171 Spencer St, Manchester and Hairdresser on Fire, 176 Broad St, Windsor. Tickets $38, $28, $18 at the door. Call 860-418-7294 for show information.

These Guest Artist have outstanding credentials.

Azamat Asangul Uulu (Snow Cavalier) is a native of Kyrgyzstan. He trained at the Bishkek Choreographic School and the Vaganova Ballet Academy in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Azamat has performed in over 10 countries with the Russian National Ballet, the Moscow City Ballet and with the Kyrgyz National Opera and Ballet Theatre; he is currently a company member with the Island Moving Company in Newport, RI.

Katie Moorhead (Snow Princess) is originally from Pennsylvania and has performed in Denmark, Poland, Italy, Canada and Australia. Katie was a Silver Medalist in the Youth American Grand Prix and is a graduate of the Kirov Academy of Washington DC, graduating with honors. Katie joined the Island Moving Company in Newport, RI as a company member in 2013.

David DuBois (Nutcracker Dec. 12, 13) trained at the Pinellas County Center for the Arts in St. Petersburg Florida and the Boston Conservatory. He was a 1st place finisher in the Youth America Grand Prix. David has been a company member with Jose Mateo's Ballet Theater, the Island Moving Company and the American Repertory Ballet. David has been a principal guest artist at Connecticut Concert Ballet, Spindle City Ballet, and the Patrick Notaro Dance Project. David is currently a company member with Festival Ballet Providence.

Kristy DuBois (Sugar Plum Fairy Dec. 12, 13) is a graduate of the Ailey School/Fordham University joint BFA program. Kristy has been a member of the Richmond Ballet, Island Moving Company, the Patrick Notaro Dance Project, and Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre and has been a frequent guest artist with the Spindle City Ballet. In 2011, she was named a finalist in the Sibiu International Ballet and Contemporary Dance Competition in Sibiu, Romania. Kristy is currently working as a freelance artist throughout the Northeast region.

Darren McIntyre (Nutcracker Dec. 19, 20) is originally from Australia and is a graduate of The Australian Ballet School. Darren has toured extensively throughout the United States, Australia, Asia, Canada, Europe and South America, with such companies as Milwaukee Ballet, The Australian Ballet, The National Ballet of Ireland, Ajkun Ballet Theatre in New York City and The Landestheater Detmold in Germany. Darren has also created several original works as a choreographer. He is currently a freelance artist.

Rebecca DeNies (Sugar Plum Fairy Dec. 19, 20) trained with Connecticut Concert Ballet and graduated from The Hartt School at The University of Hartford with honors. She attended college on scholarships including the Dizzy Feet Foundation Scholarship. Rebecca's choreographic work was chosen for The American College Dance Festival in 2014. Rebecca's degree included an Emphasis in Ballet Pedagogy and she is on faculty at Connecticut Concert Ballet and The Hartt School Community Division and is an Arts Provider for Hartford Performs. Rebecca has performed in Amsterdam and the US.

Connecticut Concert Ballet is a semi-professional 501(c)(3) classical ballet school and performing arts organization with studios in Manchester on the Glastonbury line and in Windsor at the Loomis Chaffee School; for info please visit www.ctconcertballet.org, call 860-643-4796 or visit us at www.facebook.com/connecticutconcertballet. CCB is a multi-year winner of "Best of Hartford" for Dance Lessons.

For more information on the Nutcracker please visit www.connecticutnutcracker.com or call 860-418-7294. Proceeds from the show fund our not-for-profit school year round, keeping the tuition and total cost for its students the lowest in the area. CCB's Nutcracker was 2015 runner up for "Best of Hartford" Local Annual Event.

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