Ballet Chesapeake Brings New York City to Towson

Millianna DeRosa dancing as Clara, the young heroine who receives the Nutcracker as a present from her godfather, Drosselmeyer.

Ballet Chesapeake (formerly Harford Ballet Company) announced today that upcoming Maryland performances of “The Nutcracker” will feature guest dancers Sean Suozzi and Ashly Isaacs from the internationally renowned New York City Ballet. Performances are scheduled at 1:00 and 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 9 and at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 10 at Towson University’s Stephens Hall Theatre.

“The Nutcracker” ballet is a classic holiday performance dating back to an original Russian premiere in 1892, with a breathtaking score by world-renowned composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. This year’s high caliber performance promises to be bigger and more magical than ever before as Ballet Chesapeake performs at Towson University for the first time, with a set featuring grand-scale backdrops and a real snow machine to provide a true winter wonderland experience.

In exciting news for Maryland ballet fans, the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Sugar Plum Fairy’s Cavalier will be played by prestigious New York City Ballet performers.

Ashly Isaacs will play the famous role of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Isaacs began her dance training at the age of three at Michael’s Academy of Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale. She later studied at Fort Lauderdale Ballet Classique before enrolling at the School of American Ballet, the official school of New York City Ballet, in September 2006. Isaacs became an apprentice with NYCB in September 2009 and joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in September 2010. She was promoted to soloist in June 2015. Isaacs was the 2014-15 Janice Levin Dancer Honoree, and was a recipient of the Mae L. Wien Award in 2009.

Sean Suozzi will play the Cavalier to Isaacs’ Sugar Plum Fairy. Born in Glen Cove, New York, Suozzi began his dance training at the age of seven with Joyce DiLauro. Mr. Suozzi trained for four years at the Nutmeg Ballet in Torrington, Connecticut with Sharon Dante, Joan Kunsch, Eleanor D'Antuono, Alexei Tchernichov and Kevin Martin. After attending the 1997 summer session at the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, Suozzi was invited to continue his studies in the SAB winter session as a scholarship student. At SAB, he studied with Stanley Williams, Andrei Kramarevsky, Peter Boal, Jock Soto, and Susan Pilarre, among other SAB teachers. Suozzi was invited to become an apprentice with New York City Ballet in April 1999 and joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in February 2000. In May 2007, Suozzi was promoted to soloist.

At Ballet Chesapeake’s performance, all children attending are invited to join the dancers on stage for the party scene once the toymaker Drosselmeyer appears. Participants can bring unwrapped gifts to present during the ballet scene which will be donated to Toys for Tots following the performance.

There will be a brief meet and greet with the dancers in costume following each performance with an opportunity for autographs and photography.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.balletchesapeake.org or calling 410-877-0777. Ticket prices range from $19.00 - $25.00 if purchased in advance and $30.00 at the door. A group rate is also available at $15 per ticket for parties with 10 individuals or more.

Ballet Chesapeake is supported in part by state arts funding through a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council and the Harford County Cultural Arts Board and constantly seeks financial backing for the valuable art of ballet through memberships, grants and personal and corporate donations.