Nutcracker Marches into Fullerton

Golden State Dance Foundation (GSDF) is a non-profit junior ballet company for V & T Dance Academy located in Laguna Hills, CA. GSDF provides Orange County youths with opportunities to perform in full-length, quality ballet productions. They will be performing The Nutcracker on Saturday, December 20 and Sunday, December 21, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at Fullerton College, 321 East Chapman Avenue in Fullerton, CA. The tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for seniors and students purchased online or at the studio. The tickets are $35 at the door. Group rates are also available.

Madeline Woo, 16, a V & T company dancer, was recently honored at the 2014 Music Center Spotlight Awards and won first place for classical ballet. She has also been selected as one of the eight female U.S. candidates out of a total of 70 international candidates to compete Feb. 1-8, 2015 at the Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland, one of the most prestigious international ballet competitions in world. Ten V & T solo and duet performances and two ensemble pieces placed in the top twelve at the 2014 Youth America Grand Prix Regionals and all performers were invited to the New York finals where Woo placed third internationally in the senior division. She will perform the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker.

The goal of GSDF is to provide opportunities for Orange County residents to affordably experience high quality performing arts and ballet. The performance showcases the talent and hard work of over 50 ballet dancers who dance at V & T Dance Academy. The spectacular costumes and dramatic sets round out this wonderful holiday experience. Teachers, dancers and parents put in countless hours to produce a stunning, full length ballet performance. It is the 21st year of this production originally choreographed by Victor and Tatiana Kasatsky.

V & T Dance Academy, started in 2008, is owned by Victor and Tatiana Kasatsky. They are the recipients of the Teacher Recognition Certificate from the National Foundation for Advancement of the Arts. They have also won numerous Outstanding School and Outstanding Teacher awards at the regional Youth America Grand Prix competitions. Many of the V & T students have excelled in ballet competitions, been awarded scholarships and have been accepted by prestigious ballet companies around the U.S. and Europe.

To purchase tickets online, go to http://goldenstatedance.tix.com. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Chen at vandtdance@gmail.com. For more information, go to www.vandtdance.com. To view a one minute montage of photos from last year’s performance, please go to http://youtu.be/oaD4RafjC7c.