TEXARKANA, Texas -- For the 30th consecutive year, Texarkana Community Ballet will present "The Nutcracker" in four performances the weekend of Dec. 3 at the Perot Theatre downtown.
The beloved Christmas-themed ballet, set to the familiar music of Peter Tchaikovsky, has a cast comprised of 225 dancers ages 8 to 18 who auditioned for their roles in August.
"Each season, TCB brings a professional dancer or teacher to Texarkana to audition students and to cast the ballet. Dancers are selected on four levels of advancement," according to a news release.
Dancers chosen for soloist and featured roles include Olivia Grace George as the Sugar Plum Fairy, Will Porterfield as the Nutcracker Prince, Rylee McDuffie as Clara, Layne Byers as Fritz, Eleanor Hornok as the Dew Drop Fairy, Norah Jordan as the Snow Queen, Lauren Friday as the Ballerina Doll, Helen Clark Hays as the Harlequin Doll, Paige Chambers as Mother Ginger and Summer Barrick as Reed Flutes.
Michael Skotnik, Richard Hornok and Vicki Hornok will reprise their roles as Herr Drosselmeyer, the mayor and his wife, respectively.
Choreography is by TCB member teachers and directors, and this year's performances will feature new costumes and scenery.
TCB is a cooperative effort of the following dance schools: Judith McCarty School of Dancing, All Stars Dance Center, Lana LaVoice Grounds School of Dance, Tammie Duncan School of Dance, Patti Smith's Dancing Unlimited, Joni's Gymnastics and Dance Centré, Texarkana Dance Academy and Red Door Dance Academy.
(This year's performances of "The Nutcracker" are at 7 p.m. Dec. 3, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 4, and 2 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Perot Theatre, 221 Main St. Ticket prices are $11, $13 or $15 and are available at the Perot Theatre box office, 903-792-4992. Tickets are also available online at perottheatre.org.)
