DANCE
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SEASON OF THE ARTS
the traditional ballet or any modern version,” he said. “At
this point (even myself) all choreographers tend to borrow
some from the source material and also other versions of the
ballet that exist. How original any choreography is at this
point is anyone’s guess.”
Student performers are from 6 to 18 years old. On the other
hand, “our professional dancers range in age from 19 to ages
we do not discuss in public,” Schnell said. “Twenty-three of
the professional dancers will share the stage with approximately
50 local dance students and youth constituents of our
Ticket Donation Program. Our Ticket Donation Program aims
at bringing professional dance to populations who might not
normally have access.”
This partnership of Ballet Vero Beach and The Indian River
Land Trust will spotlight the delicate balance required to
keep the Indian River thriving. Walk-through exhibits will be
installed at the theater for the two performances.
“So many people in our community are not even aware of
the peril our environment is in, let alone what the Land Trust
is doing to preserve and protect it,” Schnell said.
Schnell and the Land Trust took it up a notch when it
decided to give the students involved in the production a
deeper look into the relevance of this Nutcracker by taking
them where the action is — the Indian River Lagoon.
“We thought it was super important to get the kids out into
the nature that our production is trying to protect,” Schnell
said. “Getting the kids out on the lagoon exposes them to the
beauty that surrounds us and helps them understand why
we chose to set our Nutcracker on the lagoon. It is all part and
parcel with the fact that we believe a production like this has
a tremendous amount of potential to inspire citizens toward
environmental stewardship.”
SUNRISE THEATRE
1ine years ago, The 6tate Ballet Theatre of 5ussia Àrst
brought its dazzling production of The Nutcracker to the Sunrise
Theatre in Fort Pierce.
“The audiences have been delighted with this production
over the years and appreciate seeing the diͿerence in the
dancers from Russia vs. seeing other local or national companies’
versions,” said theater executive director John Wilkes.
“Audiences have been strong in numbers over the years and
it continues to nearly sell out the Sunrise.” He said families
enjoy the magical toys, falling snow, growing Christmas trees
and world-class dancers, all from Russia.
The 6unrise Theatre adds two additional oͿerings for the
holiday. It wouldn’t be the Christmas season without Charlie
Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the gang discovering
what Christmas really means. This performance of A
Charlie Brown Christmas is a fully staged adaptation of the
animated video that’s on television every year.
For something a little diͿerent, the theatre is presenting a
singing and dancing extravaganza of holiday sounds with
Santa leading the parade. There are even high-kicking chorus
girls and decades worth of familiar Christmas songs and carols.
Wilkes calls Christmas Wonderland Holiday Spectacular pure
holiday magic.
SOUTH FLORIDA DANCE CO.
Also at the 6unrise, a diͿerent take from a local dance
Scrooge foretells the
costs of the ghosts of
Christmas past, present
and future in the South
Florida Dance Co.’s A
Christmas Carol at the
Sunrise Theatre.
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