Dance alliance to present "The Nutcracker Ballet" Dec. 22

Delaware Dance Alliance announces its holiday performance of Duke Ellington’s “The Nutcracker Ballet.”

Delaware Dance Alliance Artistic Director Michele Xiques choreographed this brand-new, delightfully intriguing rendition of the beloved, traditional ballet. “The Nutcracker Ballet” is a full-length production brought to the Sussex County community by performers of Delaware Dance Alliance.

The excitement begins at a house party where Clara, her brother Fritz, their parents and friends gather to celebrate the holiday season with lots of dancing, games and presents. Both Clara and Fritz receive nutcrackers as gifts, a soldier figure for Clara and a mouse for Fritz. The children are thrilled with their nutcrackers, but a bigger surprise is in store for them. Clara’s and Fritz’s parents surprise them with life-sized versions of the Mouse King and Soldier nutcrackers and a life-sized doll named Columbine.

When the party ends, Fritz’s friends leave while Clara’s friends spend the night. When they are nestled down, a mysterious dream fairy arrives and puts them in a dream slumber. Clara’s friends awaken to the frightening realization that they were turned into mice! Havoc ensues when the mice and soldier nutcrackers join together to battle it out with the Mouse King and his nutcracker army. As Act I ends, Clara awakens to find herself in the Land of Snowflakes. There, elegantly dressed ballerinas entertain her with a graceful, flowing ballet performance.

In Act II, characters from many different lands entertain Clara and her father, ending with the Sugar Plum Fairy, who is accompanied by the dashing Cavalier. Though “The Nutcracker Ballet” is brimming with new, refreshing, creative ideas, brought to life through innovative choreography, there are some things that The Nutcracker Ballet just would not change, and that is the ending scene of course! As with the traditional production, Clara wakes up and realizes that everything that happened was a dream.

The Delaware Dance Alliance LLC is joining together with Dan Kaiser of Delaware Ballet, a local nonprofit organization. Under Kaiser’s artistic direction, performers of the Delaware Ballet will perform the snowflake sequence. The evening also includes guest performers from New York City who will dance the roles of the Cavalier and the Sugar Plum Fairy.

The performance is at 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 22, at Woodbridge High School.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children, students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased at the Delaware Dance Alliance, 107 Maple Ave., Milford, Monday through Thursday 5:30-7:30 p.m. or online at www.brownpapertickets.com. For more information, call 302-422-2633.