Local Nutcracker and Smashing Walnuts Foundation Helping to Crack the Cure for Cancer

Creative Dance Center and Institute of Performing Arts for Youth is pleased to announce our new partnership with The Smashing Walnuts Foundation. Ramona Batchelder, long-time Ashburn resident and founder of the Institute of Performing Arts for Youth, and Ellyn Miller, mother of Gabriella Miller who succumbed to brain cancer at the age of 10 and the founder of Smashing Walnuts Foundation, have joined in partnership to raise funds to combat childhood brain cancer. Batchelder will donate proceeds from IPA Youth’s 2015 “Nutcracker in A Shell! All Jazzed Up!” production to support the Smashing Walnuts Foundation and their efforts. Gabriella Miller was a fan of the show having attended it and earned a badge with her Girl Scout Troupe.

“Nutcracker in A Shell!”, delighting Ashburn and Leesburg area families for 18 years with its cast of area dancers, will present four shows the weekend of November 21st and 22nd at Heritage High School. IPA Youth will conduct a Silent Auction (open to the public) at all shows to benefit Smashing Walnuts Foundation. The noon show on Sunday, November 22nd, is being dedicated to the Smashing Walnuts Foundation where a percentage of proceeds from this show will also directly support the cause.

Performance Tickets and Silent Auction Tickets and information are available online at http://www.ipayouth.org/shop.html. Tickets may also be purchased in-studio at any of the four area Creative Dance Center Studios locations and more information may be found at www.CDCdance.com.

The Institute of Performing Arts for Youth, a non-profit organization which supports local youth in the arts, was founded by Creative Dance Center President, Ramona Batchelder, in 1992. Smashing Walnuts Foundation raises awareness and funds to support research to find cures for pediatric brain cancer.

Photo Caption: Ashburn dancers Matt Haskett as the Nutcracker Prince and Mariana Viera as Clara (both Stone Bridge High School Juniors) performing in 2014 “Nutcracker in A Shell - All Jazzed Up!”. The dancers will perform again in 2015’s “Nutcracker” performances with proceeds supporting of the Smashing Walnuts Foundation.