Ballethnic Urban Nutcracker Performance at Morehouse

For Immediate Release

Media Contact:

Diane Larche’

404 273-3227

diane@larchecommunications.com

BALLETHNIC’S URBAN NUTCRACKER: The First Nutcracker of the Holiday Season

ATLANTA GA – As Ballethnic Dance Company celebrates twenty-six years in the Atlanta Arts community, they return with their annual presentation of the highly acclaimed Urban Nutcracker, an imaginative full-length ballet with an ethnic twist. An annual favorite and the first Nutcracker of the holiday season, Urban Nutcracker will be presented November30- December 6 in a new space the Morehouse King Chapel on the campus of Morehouse College,830 Westview Drive Southwest Atlanta, GA 30314

Urban Nutcracker is Ballethnic co-founder Waverly T. Lucas, II’s adaptation of Tchaikovsky's ballet. Set on Atlanta's historic Sweet Auburn Avenue in the 1940's, Urban Nutcracker offers a soulful celebration with whimsical characters such as Reggae Ragdolls, the sultry Arabian dance, the spins and leaps of the Black Russians, Mother Spice and her tumbling Spice Drops, the bubbly Coca Cola Pas de Six, and the elegant Brown Sugar and her Chocolatier.

While the production remains true to its classical tradition, Lucas’s choreography showcases Ballethnic’s signature style, blending classical ballet with jazz, modern, African, and other ethnic dance. This unique and captivating style creates a fast paced and upbeat performance which captivates audiences of all ages and cultures. The production is set to the traditional Tchaikovsky score along with adapted music by L. Gerard Reid. Urban Nutcracker features a multicultural cast of aspiring and professional artists, including students from the Ballethnic Youth Ensemble and senior citizens from the H.J.C. Bowden Senior Center in East Point.

The storyline is similar to the original Nutcracker however, the characters differ. In the first act, Sarah (traditional, Clara) receives a nutcracker doll for a holiday gift from her mysterious uncle Professor Isaac, and later dreams that the nutcracker becomes a handsome prince. Act I concludes after a beautiful dance by the Snow King and Queen, against a scenic snowy backdrop. In Act II, Sarah’s dreams take her on a journey to the “land of Sweet Auburn Avenue” where she and her young prince, Leroy are greeted with delightful gifts and entertained by a bubbly six pack of Coca-Cola dancers on pointe, leaping Black Russians, and Spice Drop Tumblers. The queen of Auburn Avenue is Brown Sugar (traditional, Sugar Plum Fairy). She and the cavalier Chocolatier present Sarah and Leroy with an enchanting grand pas de deux followed by a colorful finale with all the dancers.

Performances are Friday Dress Rehearsal December 8, 8:00 PM – 10:30 PM cost is $15; Saturday Matinee, December 9, 2017 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM $30-$40; Saturday Evening $30-60, 8:00 PM – 10:30 PM.https://www.eventbrite.com/e/b...

Urban Nutcracker is sponsored in part by Fulton County Arts Council, WSB-TV Family to Family, Georgia Certified Development Corporation, Grants for Green and Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.

About Ballethnic Dance Company

Ballethnic Dance Company is a classically trained, culturally diverse ballet company that merges traditional ballet with the artistic influences of other ethnic cultures, especially African American. Ballethnic, Atlanta’s first and only African American founded classically trained professional ballet company, produces unique and exciting dance performances locally and nationally. Ballethnic was founded in 1990 by Nena Gilreath and Waverly T. Lucas II, a husband and wife team, and both former dancers with the Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Atlanta Ballet. The company’s goal is to inform, educate and entertain through dance. Ballethnic Dance Company studio is located in East Point.

For more information visit www.ballethnic.org.