APTOS — Agape Dance Academy announced that its 2018 Nutcracker Suite ballet will be performed for the first time at Cabrillo College’s Crocker Theater the weekend before Christmas.
The classic two-act ballet, set to music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, has become one of the most popular productions across the world.
Agape Dance Academy’s “Nutcracker” is in its seventh year in Santa Cruz County. Director Melanie Useldinger, former dancer for the San Francisco Ballet, helped this year in securing the Crocker Theater — which features a professional theater stage and modern equipment.
Agape’s production will be supporting Jacob’s Heart Children Cancer Services, with a portion of ticket sales benefiting the local nonprofit organization.
In addition, this year’s production will feature community members such as Supervisors John Leopold and Zach Friend, as well as Twin Lakes Church Pastor Rene Schlaepfer in the guest party scene.
Local choirs will perform throughout both days in the lobby of the Crocker Theater, and holiday treats and other concessions will be available to purchase.
There will be a total of four performances; on Saturday, Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and on Sunday, Dec. 23 at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. At 10 a.m. and noon on Dec. 22, there will be two additional shows featuring the company’s Petite Students, ages 3-7, assisted by instructors and older Agape dancers.
Tickets for “The Nutcracker” range from $22 to $35 and can be purchased online at cabrillovapa.com or by calling 479-6154. The Crocker Theater is located at Cabrillo College, 6500 Lower Perimeter Road in Aptos. For information, visit agapedance.com.
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Note: Agape Dance Academy’s “The Nutcracker” is different from the Santa Cruz City Ballet’s “Nutcracker: Experience the Magic.” Both productions will be held at the Crocker Theater, but are from separate companies. “Experience the Magic” will be performed Dec. 15 and 16.
