Free Nutcracker Preview and Ballerina Story Time on Sunday 12/1

New York Dance Theatre and the Ohman School of Ballet will kick off the holiday season during one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year by making shopping entertaining at the Barnes and Noble store in Carle Place (91 Old Country Road, Country Glen Shopping Center) on Sunday, December 1 from noon to 4 pm.

On the main level of the store, young dancers, trained under former New York City Ballet soloist Frank Ohman (1939-2019), will perform twice throughout the day, selections from the family-friendly holiday classic ballet “The Nutcracker” including the dancing dolls from the first act “Party Scene,” the Tea, Candy Cane, and Polichinelle divertissements from the ballet’s “Land of the Sweets” second act, and Clara’s dance with the Nutcracker she receives as a gift at the party that sets the story in motion, an addition to the scene exclusive to Frank Ohman’s production. Performances will be at 12: 30 pm and 2:30 pm.

After each of the performances, children are invited to take holiday photos with the dancers in costume. On the upper level in the children’s section, three times during the event one of the New York Dance Theatre corps de ballet dancers will lead a story time in full costume from the famous Nutcracker “Land of Snow” scene, reading a story book based on the ballet followed by a mini ballet lesson teaching the children the five basic feet positions, port de bras arm movements, and other introductory movements. Story time and ballet lesson will be at noon, 1:30 pm, and 3:30 pm.

While shoppers enjoy the entertainment and a children’s craft table, volunteers from the Order of the Eastern Star Mineola Chapter will provide free gift-wrapping service for store purchases, with any gratuities received donated to local shelters, food banks and other charities. New York Dance Theatre is also offering a free raffle to win tickets to see “The Nutcracker” at Hofstra University every hour during the event.

“The Nutcracker brings to life through dance the joys of the holiday season like snowflakes, toys, and sweets in a way that makes classical music and ballet accessible to even the youngest children,” said New York Dance Theatre company manager Argere Loizides. “This free annual event is our thank you to the community for their support as we get ready to perform our 38th season of the ballet.”

The New York Dance Theatre’s production of “The Nutcracker” is the largest on Long Island, and the only one performed in the tradition of New York City Ballet’s Lincoln Center version. Special guest artists Brittany Pollack and Daniel Ulbricht of New York City Ballet return this year to perform as the Sugarplum Fairy and her Cavalier. Mr. Ulbricht, a principal dancer at New York City Ballet has also taught students at the Ohman School of Ballet, a division of New York Dance Theatre, as a master class guest teacher and in his role as artistic director of the elite New York State Summer School of the Arts (NYSSA) ballet program in Saratoga Springs. Over the years, Frank Ohman created original dances and scenes which have been incorporated into the ballet and set his production apart from others on Long Island, but as a former student and soloist under George Balanchine he was one of a select few authorized to use the original pas de deux choreography of his mentor which continues since his passing in July, 2019.

With the elegant Christmas Party Scene, the drama of the magical growing Christmas Tree, the Battle of the Toy Soldiers and Giant Mice, the live Snow Storm, and the brilliant dancing in the Land of the Sweets, “The Nutcracker” appeals to all ages. In all, a cast of 80 children, pre-professional and professional dancers will bring this classic story ballet to life on the stage of the John Cranford Adams Playhouse. The children’s roles are performed by students of the Frank Ohman School of Ballet in Commack, representing a variety of towns in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

New York Dance Theatre will present its 38th season of “The Nutcracker” at Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY on Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15 with performances each day at noon and 5 p.m. Tickets for this full production ballet are $42.00 and $32.00 (seniors and children 12 and under) available at www.ohmanballet.org or 631.462.0964.