Royal City Youth Ballet returns to Surrey with four daytime performances of “The Nutcracker” this weekend.
The New Westminster-based company sets up on Surrey Arts Centre’s Main Stage for dance shows Saturday and Sunday (Dec. 9-10), daily at 1 and 4:30 p.m.
The full-length ballet features a cast of close to 100 dancers performing to Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s memorable music under the direction of Keitha Campeau. Sets are designed by Jean Claude Olivier, colourful costumes by Chris Sinosich.
Royal City has brought “The Nutcracker” to Surrey Arts Centre for more than 30 years, and this year tours the production to theatres in Abbotsford, Duncan, Surrey and New Westminster (Dec. 17). Tour details are posted on royalcityyouthballet.org.
Tickets for the shows in Surrey are sold on tickets.surrey.ca, or call 604-501-5566.
In “The Nutcracker” story, it’s Christmas Eve, a time when dreams may come true. Drosselmeyer, godfather to Clara, brings gifts and magic to her parents’ home for the annual Christmas party. His special gift to Clara is a large Nutcracker soldier. When she falls asleep after the party, Clara is cradling the Nutcracker in her arms and begins to dream.
In her dream, her Nutcracker soldier fights a battle and transports her on a sleigh through the Land of Snow to the Land of Sweets, where she meets the Sugar Plum Fairy and people from far away lands.
The ballet closes as Drosselmeyer brings Clara back from her dream, still cradling her Nutcracker soldier and treasuring her wonderful dream.
