For many, going to the theater to watch The Nutcracker is a hallmark event kicking off the holiday season with friends and families. Led by Delaware Valley Dance Academy’s (DVDA) artistic director Lisa Wasserman, more than 200 dancers will perform in this magical ballet that wows the audience with beautiful costumes and backdrops as well as a mystical snowfall, toy dolls that come to life and an epic battle scene between the Mouse King and the Nutcracker.
“Celebrating DVDA’s 20th Nutcracker is an exciting milestone. We cherish being such an important part of our DVDA students’ and families’ holiday traditions,” said Lisa Wasserman, artistic director and owner of DVDA. “Watching our students grow as performers and people through the years is an honor and we cannot wait for more years to come.”
When a new year of dance classes start each September, the DVDA studios are abuzz with excitement and anticipation for Nutcracker season. As the students move up to the next level of dance, they take on a different role in the production. Each member of the academy plays an important part in the show – whether they are a 4-year-old bumble bee buzzing in the garden before the “Waltz of the Flowers” dance or an 18-year-old senior with a principal role as Dew Drop.
“Having our daughter in the DVDA Nutcracker for the past 15 years has been a special gift to our family. We’ve watched her grow as a dancer and person with each new role every year,” said Tricia Starr, whose daughter, Belle, a senior, will perform in her final Nutcracker as Snow Queen. “The Nutcracker is a story of adventure, magic, courage, and love. It’s a very special time of year.”
“Staging this annual performance is a huge community effort. We are so grateful to our committed DVDA family for taking our production from a 60-person show in a high school auditorium to a professional level performance full of stunning sets, custom-made costumes, and 200 beautiful dancers,” Wasserman added. “It has been our goal over DVDA’s 20 years to invest in our students and instill the values of dance and the arts. By teaching our dancers the importance of hard work, tradition, creativity, kindness and teamwork, we hope to enhance our community with the culture of ballet.”
The story begins with Clara dancing the night away at her family’s Christmas party. Her uncle, Herr Drosselmeyer — always full of surprises — presents Clara with a beautiful nutcracker. When she falls asleep later that night with the Nutcracker in her arm, strange things begin to happen. She then embarks on a thrilling adventure that takes her into battle with giant mice after which the nutcracker is transformed into a human prince. They travel through an enchanted Snow Forest, and into a magical Land of Sweets where Clara is greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy and a host of delightful dancers from Spain, China, Russia and more.
“Ten years ago, when I started dancing at DVDA, I saw the role of Clara performed for the first time. Since then, I’ve watched so many talented dancers play Clara and have always dreamed of being one of them,” said 13-year-old Abby Martin, who will play Clara in one of the two shows being performed. “It’s an honor to be able to dance as Clara for DVDA’s 20th anniversary production. I hope to bring as much joy to those who see the show this year that being in DVDA’s Nutcracker has brought me over the years.”
This year’s production will be enhanced with professionals including, in the role of Sugar Plum Fairy, Isabella DiEmedio, a dancer with the Philadelphia Ballet Company who began her dance training at DVDA.
The Nutcracker shows will be held Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 3 at 1:30 p.m. at the Calvary Church in Souderton, located at 820 PA-113. Tickets can be purchased here.
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