Redding, Easton Dancers Perform in Sunday's Nutcracker Ballet

Redding dancers share some holiday dance magic this Sunday, December 6th as the Wilton Dance Studio presents its annual Nutcracker Ballet.

Now in its 18th year, this full-scale production features more than 80 students and adults from seven area towns including more than eight from Redding and one from Easton. The ballet will be performed on Sunday, December 6 at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Wilton High School’s Clune Center for the Performing Arts.

Contributing extra magic to this year’s production are dancers with special stories behind their performances. The first of these is Will Northrup, a 19-year-old developmentally challenged young man from Onsted, MI. Brenda Froehlich, a Wilton native and artistic director of the studio that has been in Wilton for 26 years, explained how Will came to be part of the ballet this year. Froehlich said, “Will is friend of a friend who learned we produce our own Nutcracker ever year. He begged his mom to get him a copy of our Nutcracker DVD. Upon receiving the copy, he watched it endlessly. When we learned of his complete and utter fascination with the ballet, we extended him an invitation to come to Connecticut to share the onstage magic that is The Nutcracker. He has been practicing the adult dances with his Michigan teacher using the DVD as their guide for the choreography, and will join our rehearsals in person the week before the show. We are delighted to help fulfill one of Will’s dancing dreams.”

Anjali Duenwald, ninth grader at Joel Barlow High School, said of her Nutcracker experience: “I really like to dance and be with my friends and this is doing both of those things! It’s more fun when you get to dance with friends. I also like that we have different parts each year.”

Parents of dancers have a unique opportunity to share the Nutcracker magic when they perform as guests in the opening party scene. Said Todd Trimble, parent of Redding sixth grader and dancer Lydia Trimble, said, “This is my fourth year participating in the Nutcracker as one of the party scene adults. Sharing time on the stage with my daughter has been a lot of fun, and I’ve also enjoyed observing how this production has grown over the years. The sets and staging are a feast for the eyes, and the little changes and adaptations over the years have kept it all interesting and alive, even for the veteran performers.”

Lydia Trimble said, “I look forward to dancing in the Nutcracker every year. This year is my first time in a solo part, the Ballerina Doll, which is one of my favorite numbers. I also love dancing with the older dancers in the big group numbers like the Snow scene and Flowers waltz, which I now get to do en pointe. And the costumes are great!”

Wilton Dance Studio is also excited about the return of Peter Nevin in the role of the Nutcracker Prince. Peter joined Wilton Dance Studio’s teaching staff for ballet in the fall of 2014, and was a guest dancer in the Nutcracker Prince role for the studio in 2007 and 2008. Nevin began his training and performing career in 1985 with the Westchester Ballet Company. He first performed as a guest dancer for the Wichita Falls Ballet Theatre (WFBT) in 1992 and joined the company as a principal soloist in 1994. Peter also danced principal roles in Harem Scarum, Hi-Tek Aztec, and Tapestry, which were designed for him by choreographer Ron Cunningham of the Sacramento Ballet Company.

Wilton Dance Studio’s Nutcracker shares the magic of dance in a way that appeals to audiences of all ages. The performance length is manageable for young children, and they are welcome. The ballet follows the traditional story of Clara and her Nutcracker prince from E.T.A. Hoffman’s The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, with music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Professional sets and elegant costumes complete the high-quality production.

The Wilton Dance Studio production of The Nutcracker will be on Sunday, December 6, 2015 at 1 and 4:30 p.m. at Wilton High School’s Clune Performing Arts Center. To buy tickets, call 203-544-9007 and leave a message or order at www.wiltondance.com, click on “Nutcracker Performances” download & print the ticket order form. Tickets are also available at the door on the day of the show.

Photo: Redding and Easton Dancers in the 2015 Production

From Left to Right:

Anjali Duenwald (Redding), age 14, in her 11th year at WDS, shown dancing the role of Spanish

Julia North (Redding), age 15, in her 11th year at WDS, shown dancing the role of Arabian

Elizabeth Kennedy (Redding), age 11, in her 9th year at WDS, shown dancing the role of Snow Flurrie

Natalie Gilbert (Redding), age 10, in her 7th year at WDS, shown dancing the part of Party Girl

Adeline Thompson (Easton), age 8 in her 4th year at WDS, shown dancing the role of Angel

Lydia Trimble (Redding), age 11 in her 8th year at WDS, shown dancing the role of Chinese