Wednesday, December 6, 2006

Sun Valley Ballet School presents Christmas classic

Student dancers perform at the top of their class


By SABINA DANA PLASSE
Express Staff Writer

The Sun Valley Ballet School will present its original production of the "Nutcracker" at the nexStage Theatre in Ketchum. This year's performance will feature graduating senior Kayla Harrison as the Sugar Plum Fairy and the return of professional principal dancer, Todd Fox, as the Snow King and Sugar Plum Caviler.

"Nutcracker" will also include the final full-length ballet performances from graduating seniors Mareena Moss and Louisa Waycott as well as Harrison.

"We have had dancers who could pursue ballet," said school Director Jill Brennan. "These girls, the seniors, dance four nights a week for three hours all year. They are strong athletes, and in this town, they still do everything from skiing to snowboarding."

The school teaches ballet classes to 140 children from ages three to 17 throughout the school year and within a summer program.

Harrison has been dancing at the school since she was 3 years old.

"She is home schooled and is a senior," said Brennan. "Kayla is special this year. We nurtured her from when she was a baby and, being home schooled, this was her activity."

Artistic Director Sherry Horton Booth, now in her fifth year, is the lead instructor in charge of all choreography for the school.

"She puts together the shows, the ideas for sets and finds the professional dancers," Brennan said. "It is an expensive production, and we bring principal dancers to Sun Valley for the performance. There are many versions of the ballet, but this our original version. Almost all the December shows are professional, and you do need a guy to do some of the parts."

The costumes created by school director Nadja Hirner are comparable to professional ballet companies. In 2003, Hirner made and designed many of the tutus, which have been loaned to professional ballet companies.

"We are basically all moms," Brennan said. "One of the moms is an artist and does the backdrop, which is professional quality."

"Nutcracker" is performed by the School every other year and is the school's biggest fundraiser, and, although there is a great deal of contribution from the community, the school is run by many mothers who volunteer their time. This year the school hopes to raise between $10,000 and $15,000.

'Nutcracker'

The Sun Valley Ballet School will perform the "Nutcracker" at the nexStage Theatre in Ketchum opening Friday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Dec. 9, there will be a 2 p.m. matinee and an evening performance at 7 p.m. The final performance will be on Sunday, Dec. 10, with a matinee at 3 p.m.

Friday and Saturday evening performances offer special $50 reserved seats, in which $25 is a tax-deductible donation to the Sun Valley Ballet School.

Regular reserved seating is $25, and general admission for adults is $15 and for students is $10. Tickets are available at Chapter One Bookstore in Ketchum and at Hawley Graphics in Hailey. For more information, call 726-2985 or e-mail directors@sunvalleyballet.com.




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