Oxford Resident to Perform in the Nutcracker

Jessie Peck of Oxford will perform with the New England Ballet Company in the 24th Annual Nutcracker on December 19th and 20th at the Klein Auditorium in Bridgeport. Jessie, 16, is a Soloist in the New England Ballet Company. She began dancing at the age of 2, and started dancing in the Nutcracker at age 5. She has danced many roles including mouse, angel, soldier, Clara friend, Fritz friend, Russian girl, Chinese soloist, Arabian soloist, Flower soloist, Reed Flite soloist, Snowflake, and more. Last year, she starred as Clara, and this year Jessie will perform as the Reed Flute Princess and the Columbine Doll, as well as Icicle and Flower Soloist.

Jessie is a junior at Oxford High School where she is enrolled in honor classes and achieves high honors every marking period. She is active in the youth group at Christ Church in Oxford, and volunteers at vacation bible school each summer.

Each year, the New England Ballet Company performs a busy Nutcracker season with many public performances begining right after Thanksgiving. The mission of the NEBC, which has been named to resident ballet company of the city of Bridgeport, the Klein Auditorium, and the Bijou Theatre, is to “Bring the Arts to Children and Children to the Arts.” Each season, the company performs several performances for children in schools in Bridgeport and Milford. This year, as a result of a grant project, NEBC partnered with a group of children from Curiale School in Bridgeport who performed with the company in 2 of the performances. The NEBC also partners with the Milford Parks and Recreation Department to produce an Adaptive Nutcracker program. This program provides mentors from the NEBC to assist with ballet classes for children with disabilities. The classes culminate with a special adaptation of the Nutcracker with the children with disabilities performing on stage with the NEBC. Jessie participates in these programs along with the other NEBC dancers.

Tickets are avaiable for the NEBC’s 24th Annual Nutcracker on December 19th and 20th. Visit www.newenglandballet.org to purchase tickets or for information about registering for dance classes at the New England ballet Company.

(photographs by David Kent)