Manchester Residents Win Lead Roles in the Nutcracker

Connecticut Concert Ballet’s Nutcracker has another full weekend of shows coming up, and six residents of Manchester will be highlighted in the performances. Leanne Baldwin, Sara Baldwin, Ella Guinan , Sarah Patulak and Kayla Sandoval were selected from the cast of 260 for lead roles when auditions were held in September. A total of 50 residents in the show are from Manchester.

In addition, the most challenging dancing role in the show, the Sugar Plum Fairy, will be performed by returning Manchester native Rebecca DeNies as Guest Artist alongside Azamat Asangul Uulu as the Nutcracker Prince.

Azamat is a native of Kyrgyzstan and has performed worldwide with the Russian National Ballet, the Moscow City Ballet and with the Kyrgyz National Opera and Ballet Theatre; he is currently a company member with the Island Moving Company in Newport, RI. Rebecca is a CCB alumna and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Hartford with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University’s Hartt School.

“Manchester’s Own” Connecticut Concert Ballet is a 501(c)(3) classical ballet school and performing arts organization with studios in Manchester and in Windsor at the Loomis Chaffee School. CCB has had a stellar year winning awards and receiving recognition in the ballet community that acknowledges the excellence of the training CCB provides our local area. In addition, CCB is honored to announce it had been named “Best Dance Lessons” in Hartford Magazine’s “Best of Hartford” readers’ poll for 2013 and 2014.

CCB’s best dancers also excel in academics and community involvement. This pursuit of excellence results in technically proficient performers and well rounded individuals. CCB is proud of its students for their continued growth as dancers, and for the following accomplishments.

Leanne Baldwin (Arabian Demi-soloist, Chinese Lead) is a 14 year old homeschooled high school sophomore and this is her 11th Nutcracker. This past summer, Leanne attended the Burklyn Ballet Theatre and DancEnlight summer intensive programs. One of Leanne’s favorite ballet roles is dancing in Waltz of the Flowers, “because it is an expressive, technical role.” Leanne is an Ensemble member of CCB’s pre-professional program as well as an apprentice of Lorelei Chang’s professional modern dance company, DancEnlight.

Sara Baldwin (Military Doll) is a 14 year old home high school freshman and this is her 9th Nutcracker. This past summer, Sara attended the Burklyn Ballet Theatre’s summer intensive programs where she earned a scholarship. Sara enjoys modern dance, character dance, jazz dance, studying music theory and singing. Sara says her favorite part of ballet is, “the camraderie and thrill of performing.” Sara is an Apprentice in CCB’s pre-professional program and also a pre-professional student of Lorelei Chang’s modern dance company, DancEnlight.

Ella Guinan (Shepherd Girl) is a sophomore at Glastonbury High School, where she is in the Agricultural Science program. Ella scored in the top 10% nationally in “Le Grand Concours “, the National French Contest. Ella also holds a part time job at Highland Park Market. What Ella likes best about ballet, “I really enjoy learning pieces for performances. I love going to rehearsal and learning new things or practicing previously learned choreography.”

Sarah Patulak (Mouse Queen, Arabian Lead, Rosebud) is an honor roll junior at Glastonbury High School, where she is in the Agricultural Science program. She is a member of Future Farmers of America and is an active member in her church’s youth group. This is Sarah’s 13th Nutcracker. Sarah says, “The thing i enjoy the most about ballet is the outlet it creates for physical energy. Leaving class utterly and completely exhausted both mentally and physically is ironically the best feeling in the world. Ballet allows for such a creative environment and I thrive in it.” Sarah is an Ensemble member of CCB’s pre-professional program.

Kayla Sandoval (Fritz) is a 10 year old fifth grader at St. Bridget School who is on student council. Kayla was a member of the St. Bridget Blazer Twirlers which came in third place among fifty teams in a regional competition. This is her eighth Nutcracker. Kayla says, “What I enjoy most about ballet is dancing and making friends.” Fritz is the trouble-making brother of Clara, who gets an enchanted Nutcracker as a gift at Christmastime. Some years, when there are not enough boys to fill the cast, girls need to step into the roles, and this year Kayla will be that most important “boy” in the story. Kayla is a Trainee in CCB’s pre-professional program.

Performances will be held at the state of the art Bailey Auditorium, Manchester High School, 134 Middle Turnpike East, on Saturday, December 20 (2 p.m. and 7 p.m.) and Sunday, December 21 (2 p.m.).

Advance Ticket Information: Preferred Front & Center Seats $35; General Admission: Adult $25, Child/Student/Senior $15. Tickets are available online at www.connecticutnutcracker.com, also at Dance Village, 171 Spencer St, Manchester and Hairdresser on Fire, 176 Broad St, Windsor. Tickets $38, $28, $18 at the door.

The technical aspects of the production including costumes, lighting and stage crew are provided by professionals and CCB’s highly capable students from 34 towns are an integral part of the production. Each year, Connecticut Concert Ballet’s Nutcracker is one of the largest community events in the greater Hartford area.

Proceeds from the show fund this 501(c)(3) not-for-profit school year round, allowing for scholarships and keeping the tuition and total cost for its students the lowest in the area.

Connecticut Concert Ballet is a semi-professional 501(c)(3) classical ballet school and performing arts organization with studios in Manchester on the Glastonbury line and in Windsor at the Loomis Chaffee School. Connecticut Concert Ballet proudly employs the AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE® National Training Curriculum. For information please visit www.ctconcertballet.org, call 860-643-4796 or visit us at www.facebook.com/connecticutconcertballet.

Photo credits Exclusive Image and Arthur Simoes

Full Manchester cast list:

Eva Elizabeth Andrews
Jaden Austin
Leanne Baldwin
Sara Baldwin
Anna Bangerter
Stefaniya V. Barbieri
Tiffany Barbieri
Natalie Christopher
Caroline Christopher
Rebecca DeNies
Natalie Fanning
Mya Foley
Aislinn Gara Grady
Ella Guinan
Lindsey Hoover
Sophia I. Houle
Kaylee Hwang
Carlos Jusem
Dakota Jusem-LaPorte
Carolina Jusem-LaPorte
Alina Kaiser
Tricia Kearney
Isabella Kinney
Saiesha Kotian
Lauryn Kyeremeh
Jasmine Kyeremeh
Trinity Lach
Mary LaMonica
Isabella Mendoza
Amelia Miller
Avery Norris
Sarah Patulak
Alejandra Piotrowski
Catherine Puffer
Lilly Diana Puzio
Julia Grace Puzio
Olivia Reardon
Violet Robinson
Kayla Sandoval
Eva Senaratne
Shruti Shah
Sarah Silberberg
Mira Stebe
Arielle T. Thomas
Maricel Thongmanivong
Caitlyn Tran
Ainsley Vyse
Zionna Faith Wallace
Lydia Whelton