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Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Augusta Youth Ballet presents The Nutcracker



     An American favorite, “The Nutcracker,” will be presented by the Augusta Youth Ballet Company located at The Dance Factory. This performance will be held at the Virginia Thomas Law Performing Arts Center on the campus of West Virginia Wesleyan College. The opening night for the show is Friday, December 8th at 7 p.m.; Saturday, December 9th at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, December 10th at 2 p.m. “I plan to go and watch the show, especially since my cousin is one of the main parts in it,” says Logan Whitehair.

     The origin of the Nutcracker, a classic Christmas story, is a fairy tale ballet centered on a family’s Christmas Eve celebration. Alexandre Dumas Père’s adaptation of the story by E.T.A. Hoffmann was set to music by Tchaikovsky and originally choreographed by Marius Petipa. It first premiered a week before Christmas in 1892. “The Nutcracker is definitely one of my favorite things about Christmas. The story it tells is so neat,” comments Caroline Fluke.

     The dancers that make up the youth ballet are from Upshur, Lewis, Randolph, and Barbour counties. Senior company dancers include: Eva Beth Atha, Leanna Bohman, Kristen Fisher, Caroline Frye, Hannah Hollen, Abby Loudin, Emma Loudin, Zoe Payne, Jaeneika Westfall, Alayna Whitehair, Kathryn Winkler and Kirstyn Winkler. Also performing with the senior company will be the junior company and an additional 30 students from The Dance Factory.

     The Augusta Youth Ballet Company is under the direction of Nina M. Scattaregia. The program is considered a pre-professional youth company in the state of West Virginia. “I have been a part of The Nutcracker before. I’ve danced for The Dance Factory for many years, and every year I had a different role and enjoyed them all. I think the community should definitely support The Dance Factory and go watch their show,” said Summer Aguiar.

     The cost of admission is $12 for adults and $6 for students. Tickets may be purchased at the door on the night of the performance or at The Dance Factory, located on 107 W. Main St.

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