Nutcracker Ballet - York (PA)

Experience Moscow Ballet’s Dove of Peace Tour  presenting world class ballerinas and danseurs in over 100 cities across North America this holiday season. CNNspoke with Producer Akiva Talmi about the ballet’s unique Dove of Peace character which was inspired by Bolshoi Principal Artists’ performance in NYC in 1957, and first presented by Moscow Ballet as a single ballerina costumed in 2 lightly feathered wings. Talmisays, “Masha flies on the wings of the Dove of Peace around the world seeking peace and harmony. She goes to France, Italy, Africa -- all around the world, and she finds peace and harmony through love.” In Act II Masha and her Nutcracker Prince arrive in the “Land of Peace and Harmony” (traditionally called the Land of Sweets) and celebrate the great heritages of the world including African, Asian, European, Hispanic and Slavic.

Moscow Ballet’s community engagement program “Dance-with-Us ” brings the historic Russian Vaganova ballet pedagogy to American children in each city on the N American Tour.  Moscow Ballet Audition Director Alisa Bolotnikova arrives in York on Sunday, September 23 at 12:30pm to audition local dance students for roles in the Great Russian Nutcracker!

Alisa Bolotnikova will audition and rehearse children ages 6 to 17 years with at least 1 year of ballet training. Local children will meet and work one-on-one with talented Moscow Ballet Soloist/Audition Directors who have toured the world; have degrees in Masters of Choreography, Economics and Journalism; won awards at International Ballet Competitions, and performed with super stars including Svetlana Zakharova, Diana Vyshneva and Vladimir Vasiliev! Children’s roles are as Party Children, Mice, Snowflakes, Snow Maidens, and more. Auditions are free, there may be a casting fee. Dress rehearsal is on stage with the Russian company and children’s costumes are provided by Moscow Ballet. Rehearsals run through the fall and take place at Moscow Ballet Host Studio Greater Dover Dance Academy 50 Butter Road Dover PA 17315. Sign up to audition today at www.nutcracker.com/auditions

The selected children will perform in the Great Russian Nutcracker Thursday, November 29, 2018 at 7:00 pm, at Pullo Family Performing Arts Center.  Buy Tickets.

Greater Dover Dance Academy (GDDA) is entering its 20th year of providing excellent dance training to youth in the Dover/York area!  GDDA offers a strong ballet program as well as other contemporary styles.  Alumni of GDDA have gone on to professional dance careers, been granted scholarships to reputable university dance programs, and become dance instructors and directors.  Greater Dover Dance Academy strives to instill a balance of technical discipline and joy of movement in young dancers. Whether a career-minded student or a recreational dancer, each individual is given the opportunity to pursue their interests in dance, reach his/her full potential, and experience the joy of dance! The studio’s goal is for all dancers to gain the knowledge, confidence, and accomplishment of quality dance training in a friendly, professional atmosphere. The studio also strives to instill discipline, character, respect, kindness, and creative expression in all students.

The Pullo Family Performing Arts Center is named to honor a lifelong commitment to education, culture and the arts by Robert and Donna Pullo.  Bob and Donna are respected benefactors, volunteers and visionaries in the community who demonstrate their personal belief in making life better by exceptional gifts of time, talent and treasure.  They were named 2009 Philanthropists of the Year by Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.  Their contributions include significant gifts for capital needs and endowments to enable growth and prosperity in the present and to sustain the campus into the future.

The elegant Pullo Family Performing Arts Center (The Pullo Center) at Penn State York provides a state-of-the-art facility. The 1,016-seat theatre offers generous stage space, complete backstage scene shop, separate rehearsal space with dance mirrors, and dressing rooms.  The center features audience amenities and technical capabilities not normally found in such an intimate environment. From cutting edge audio, video, data and lighting systems to fully adjustable acoustic curtaining to luxurious interior accoutrements.