GRAND RAPIDS, Mich — A whimsical Christmas tale is making its way back to West Michigan.
Starting Friday, Grand Rapids Ballet will be presenting "The Nutcracker" at DeVos Performance Hall.
“I think it really takes us back to like we, as dancers, love ballet,” said performing artist Rowan Allegra, now in her second season for the dance company. “Getting to see how happy it makes children or how happy it makes people that have seen it their whole lives. It really takes us back to the reason that we do it.”
Allegra, like many others, plays several roles in the two-act ballet. She said the classical story comes with many types of dancing, meaning there will be something for everyone.
“Whether you're an adult or a child, there's going to be something in it for you that touches your heart and inspires you,” Allegra said.
The renowned musical score will be played by the members of the Grand Rapids Symphony.
“It just feels great to be onstage, the audience sees it, the dancers feel it – the orchestra brings everything together, which is great,” said Julian Wen-Sheng Gan, a performing artist in his second year with Grand Rapids Ballet. “It's just great to see everyone do it and striving to bring the show together.”
There are eight performances on December 8-10 and December 15-17. The times are as follows:
- Friday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 9 at 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Dec. 10 at 2:00 p.m.
- Friday, Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 16 at 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Dec. 17 at 2:00 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at the performance hall’s box office or on Ticketmaster.
Grand Rapids Ballet will also be hosting a special event for children on Sunday, Dec. 10. At 11 a.m., their annual tradition known as “Clara’s Nutcracker Party” takes place at the Amway Grand Plaza, just before their 2 p.m. matinee performance.
The party will feature arts and crafts activities, a reading of the Nutcracker and a live performance by GR Ballet.
Tickets to Clara’s Nutcracker Party begin at $65 plus the cost of the ticket to "The Nutcracker."
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