Wilton Dancers Perform In Sunday's Nutcracker Ballet

It’s time for the magic of the Nutcracker Ballet to come to life once again as the Wilton Dance Studio presents its annual Nutcracker Ballet this Sunday, December 6th at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Wilton High School’s Clune Center for the Performing Arts.

Now in its 18th year, this full-scale production features more than 80 students and adults from seven area towns including more than 40 from Wilton. Three Wilton High School seniors dance leading roles this year: Michele Assef, Jackie Cahill and Jason Collins. Elizabeth Vermeulen, an 11-year-old from Wilton in her eighth year at the studio, plays the role of Clara this year.

Contributing extra magic to this year’s production are several 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.”

Elizabeth Vermeulen, who plays Clara this year, said of finding out she had the role: “I was very excited! I couldn’t believe that I had gotten the role. I had wanted to be Clara for a very long time. My favorite thing about the Nutcracker is the party scene. I really like all the costumes and it is fun to dance in. It’s festive and gets me excited for the holidays.”

Parents of dancers have a unique opportunity to share the Nutcracker magic when they perform as guests in the opening party scene. “My husband and I and both of our daughters have been in the show, and for four years we were all in the show together. We got involved originally because when Brenda asked our oldest daughter Caitlyn to be in the show, my daughter said she’d only be in it if I was. That was 16 years ago. Now our younger daughter Kirsten is dancing in the role of lead Spanish. It’s been fun to do something special with both of our daughters, and you get to play dress up in a beautiful costume!” said Cindy Finnecy of Wilton.

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 1:

Center standing, Mark Froehlich as mysterious & benevolent Uncle Drosselmeyer (Mark’s 6th year in this role.) As you know, Mark has produced the show for 18 years.

From Right to left: Elizabeth Vermeulen, 11 year old from Wilton, dancing the lead role of Clara. She is in her 8th year of ballet studies at WDS, Lily Harwood, age 17 from Weston, in her 9th year of ballet studies at WDS dancing the lead role of Sugar Plum Fairy, and Angela Pacheco, 10 year old from Danbury, dancing the role of the mischievous brother Fritz. She is in her 7th year of ballet studies at WDS.

Photo 2: Wilton Dancers

Front row (L - R): Courtney Allen, Stacia Dooley, Grace Todd, Kayla DiRocco,
Marina Lee

Second row (L - R): Savannah Shettler, Elizabeth Vermeulen, Katie Reed, Ava
Curto, Caitlin Allen, Sophie Froehlich, Caroline Assef, Sophia Flaim

Back row (L - R) Haley MacDonald, Parker Mavis, Michele Assef, Dilshad
Dinshaw, Jackie Cahill, Lizzie MacDonald, Kirstie Finnecy, Natalie Wallon,
Emma Driver, Victoria DiRocco