After a successful season performing with the Victorian State Ballet in Beauty and the Beast, dancers from the Byron Youth Ballet Company are preparing to take the stage once more – this time for their own production of The Nutcracker.
This mid-October weekend marks a special milestone: Byron Ballet’s 20th Anniversary presentation of the world’s best-loved ballet. The company has staged The Nutcracker several times over the years, and this four-show season promises to be a joyful celebration of two decades of classical dance in the Byron community.
Artistic director Yvonne Hall, says young audiences will be captivated by this enchanting coming-of-age story. ‘A joyful Christmas party transforms into an extraordinary adventure, complete with a thrilling battle between the toy soldiers and the army of rats. With Clara’s help, the Nutcracker Prince defeats the wicked Rat King and leads us into a magical world of wonder.’
Ms Hall says that The Nutcracker has long served as a rite of passage for young dancers. ‘It’s performed every year to packed houses in hundreds of cities around the globe, it allows dancers to work their way up through the ranks over the years – from the youngest little chorus angel to the divertissements, solos and, for a lucky few, the principal dream roles of Clara or the Sugar Plum Fairy. Byron Ballet makes it a true community ballet, as extra dancers of all ages join for the Christmas party scene.’
Tchaikovsky’s sublime and instantly recognisable score remains one of the most accessible and best-loved in the classical repertoire, making the ballet the perfect introduction to classical music and storytelling through dance for children and adults alike.
Join the Byron Youth Ballet Company and special guest artists as they celebrate this masterpiece of music and dance. Shows are on 16 to 18 October at the Byron Theatre.
Tickets on sale now from byroncentre.com.au.
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