By Lindsay Bird
Ticket prices to world-renowned ballet performances of ?The Nutcracker? can be expensive so a local ballet company will perform the classic piece this weekend at student-friendly prices.
In its second year performing Tchaikovsky?s ?The Nutcracker,? Orem?s Ballet Classique Company will bring the story of Clara and her beloved toy-soldier nutcracker to life. Ballet Classique?s founder, Cindy Kenney, organized the performance as a non-profit event so she could bring the highest quality production to the public, while maintaining reasonable ticket prices.
?I knew I didn?t want to compromise my high standards for this show in order to keep ticket prices low,? Cindy said. ?As a non-profit, I am able to bring my vision of the Nutcracker to life, while keeping tickets at a reasonable rate so that entire families can enjoy the magic of this holiday tradition together.?
As s relatively small studio, the Ballet Classique did not have the cast size necessary to pull off a production equal to the task, so open auditions were held in September to fill the roles of all the characters.
?We have literally pulled some non-dancers off the street and taught them to dance,? Cindy said. ?It gives them an opportunity they would never have in their whole lives, and we have a pretty refined product at the end.?
In order to end up with a refined product, some of the dancers had to learn two different roles to complete the cast list.
One such dancer, Janessa Kenney, will perform the parts of the Arabian princess and the mechanical doll in the show. Janessa has been practicing 15 to 20 hours a week in preparation.
?It?s been an awesome experience, I have really gown from it,? Janessa said. ?It has really helped me become a better dancer by being able to express myself and play the roles while watching the magic of the Nutcracker come alive.?
Bringing the performance to life is what marketing director Linda Pehrson said she hopes will be an enjoyable experience for everyone.
?With gorgeous costumes, a top-notch technical crew, dancers from all over Utah Valley, as well as guest artists, Ballet Classique?s Nutcracker is sure to thrill audiences again this year,? Pehrson said.
The performance dates are Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 10 at 1:30 p.m. at Mountain View High School, 665 W. Center St. in Orem. Tickets are $8 and are available by calling 225-5442. BYU students and their family members can receive $2 off the regular admission price.