Choreographed by Stephanie Dattellas

Friday, December 1 at 7pm; Saturday, December 2 at 2pm & 7pm; Sunday, December 3 at 11:00am (Sensory) & 3pm

The holiday season is just around the corner, and what better way to get in the spirit than attending a performance of the beloved holiday tale, The Nutcracker, presented by Ballet Theatre Company (BTC) at The Bushnell’s Maxwell M. & Ruth R. Belding Theater. 

BTC’s The Nutcracker, choreographed by Artistic Director Stephanie Dattellas, follows the beloved story of a young girl named Clara who goes on an adventure with her magical Nutcracker doll after the rest of the family has gone to sleep for the evening. Though the story is familiar, Dattellas’ version includes a few unique twists and turns that will keep repeat audience members and first-timers alike on the edge of their seats. Fan favorites include: the breakdancing Mice Battalion as part of the epic Battle Scene, Dattellas’ enchanting rendition of “Waltz of the Flowers” which features a swirl of dancers in a landscape of flower garlands, the dancing dolls echoing West Hartford’s very own Noah Webster and the Blue Back Speller Book, and so much more!

BTC is thrilled to announce Mayara Pineiro and Ashton Roxander, Principal Dancers of Philadelphia Ballet will join the cast to perform the coveted roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier. Pineiro, originally from Cuba, joined Philadelphia Ballet in 2014 and was quickly promoted to a Principal in 2016, the same year Roxander joined the company. Prior, Roxander studied at the Boston Ballet School after training with his parents at an early age. Roxander was recently featured in Pointe Magazine alongside his brother and father.

In addition, Derek Brockginton (Dance Theatre of Harlem) will perform the Snow King and Peppermint, Keith Reeves (MET Opera) will perform in Hot Chocolate and Peppermints, Luis Ocaranza (Ballet RI) will perform in Coffee, and breakdancers of Studio-860 will be featured in the Battle Scene. 

After presenting four nearly sold-out performances of The Nutcracker in 2022, BTC is pleased to offer five public performances this December. Join BTC at The Bushnell on Friday, December 1st at 7:00pm; Saturday, December 2nd at 2:00pm or 7:00pm; or Sunday, December 3rd at 3:00pm for our standard performance offerings. If you have a family member or friend with sensory-sensitivities, or other needs that might prevent attending a traditional theater performance, we encourage you to join us on Sunday, December 3rd at 11:00am for our special presentation of The Nutcracker: A Sensory-Friendly Ballet.

With multiple options to choose from, there’s a presentation of BTC’s The Nutcracker for everyone this holiday season! Tickets generally sell quickly, so purchasing early is recommended to ensure you have a seat to experience the magic with BTC this December.