Emerald Ballet Theatre’s (EBT) production of “The Nutcracker” returns to the Northshore Performing Arts Center at 18125 92nd Ave. N.E. in Bothell on Dec. 7-8 and 14-15 at 2 p.m.
Now in its seventh season, EBT’s full-length production features choreography in the Russian tradition and the Rainier Symphony Orchestra, with David Waltman conducting.
The production will feature the following dancers from Redmond: Bella Delgado, Lucy Flaat, Yulia Garaeva, Maria Gringauze, Taylor Ka, Kaelyn Lefferts, Oliver Lefferts, Katya Lukyanova, Emily O’Brien, Galina Petrova, Caroline Popescu, Natasha Ryzhova, Rachel Seres, Brooklyn Villanueva, Natalie Esteb, Maya Robinson and Pippa Marple.
Viktoria Titova appears as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Shane Tice is her Cavalier. Trained by masters of the Russian Vaganova style, Titova began touring with the Bolshoi Ballet Grigorovich Company at age 17, performing solo and ensemble roles on some of the world’s most famous stages. In the Pacific Northwest, she has continued to perform and expand her talents. After four seasons as artistic director for Ballet Bellevue, she founded EBT in 2007 and has been the artistic director ever since.
Tice was born in Seattle, where he received his primary training from Ronald G. Tice and Magali Messac. He was a scholarship student at Pacific Northwest Ballet, Houston Ballet School of American Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. His professional career includes dancing with the Minnesota Dance Theater, State Street Ballet in Santa Barbara, Smuin Ballet in San Francisco and Festival Ballet in Rhode Island.
Titova and Tice are joined by regional professionals and more than 150 Emerald Ballet Academy (EBA) students, ages 6-16. Megan Hong of Woodinville and Kristina Snyder of Bellevue share the role of little Clara. Erica Hsia of Bellevue and Emeline Settlemyre of Bothell play older Clara. Longtime EBA student Chloe Heninger of Preston has returned from a year at the Bolshoi and is understudying for the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy. She will make her debut on Dec. 14.
Tickets are now on sale at (425) 984-2471 or npacf.org: $20 for children younger than 17, $31.50 for seniors and $35 for adults.
EBT also has a special offer for children’s groups. Scouts, Camp Fire kids and other nonprofit children’s groups are invited to attend the dress rehearsal on Saturday at 10 a.m. at NPAC. Tickets are general admission at $9 each and must be purchased through EBT by Wednesday. Email info@emeraldballet.org or mail order to: EBT, Attn: Dress Rehearsal Tickets, 12368 Northup Way, Bellevue, WA 98005.
