Nashville’s Nutcracker is a beloved holiday tradition (Submitted Photo)
Two local students, Eli Boggs (Fritz) and Jordan Hamm (Party Girl), will be helping Nashville Ballet make their triumphant return to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center stage this holiday season as part of the Youth Cast for Nashville’s Nutcracker. A beloved holiday tradition, this annual event allows School of Nashville Ballet students the opportunity to perform alongside Nashville Ballet’s professional Company dancers.
“This is truly such an incredible opportunity for our students,” shared School of Nashville Ballet Academy Principal Dodie Askegard. “Dancing is such an individual endeavor, but by participating in this production, they become a part of a larger team and see how their efforts contribute to the whole. They get the chance to work alongside professional dancers, live musicians, and experience first-hand how these performances come to life on stage. It is a special reminder that this is why we do what we do- to share the beauty of this art form not only with each other, but with our community as well.”
An experience exclusive to School of Nashville Ballet students, the Youth Cast for Nashville’s Nutcracker gives over 100 young dancers the chance to learn directly from Nashville Ballet Company dancers on stage. After participating in School-wide auditions, each student is hand selected for their role by a Nashville Ballet rehearsal director and spends eight weeks rehearsing in the studio in preparation for the final performances.
