Studio 9 to Present A Children's Nutcracker Mid-December at Bridgeport High School
By Julie Perine on November 25, 2023
The dancers of Studio 9 Dance Academy have an extra holiday spring in their step. That’s because it’s a Nutcracker year.
Every other year, the studio presents “A Children’s Nutcracker” at the Bridgeport High School auditorium. This year’s production will be at 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17.
The show – a shortened, kid-friendly version of Tchiakovsky’s Christmas classic – will feature the tiniest dancers through the most seasoned, some of the older girls filling lead roles such as Clara, The Sugar Plum Fairy, the Snow Queen, Arabian Queen, Dew Drop Fairy, the Drosselmeyers, Fritz, the Mouse King, and, of course, the title character.
Scenes featuring snow angels, candy canes, Arabians, Russian, Chinese, Spanish, reed flutes and jesters provide plenty of ensemble parts for the dozens of young dancers of Studio 9.
A Children’s Nutcracker was first presented by the studio in 1997 – then named Annabel Timms School of Ballet - owned and operated by Annabel Timms. At that time, Heather Campbell was a student dancer. Now, she owns, operates. and teaches at the studio, now known as Studio 9 Dance Academy.
The cast will appear in the Bridgeport Christmas Parade, 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2.
“We are also doing a meet and greet after the Christmas parade at the studio. The cast will be in costume and kids can come get their pictures taken and dance with the cast,” Campbell said.
The cost for the meet and greet is $20, proceeds benefiting the dance company girls and their show expenses.
Tickets to “A Children’s Nutcracker” will be available at the door or at Studio 9 Dance Academy. All tickets are $15.
Editor's Note: Photos were taken during recent rehearsals at Studio 9 Dance Academy. Cover photo by Joe LaRocca was taken during the 2021 production of "A Children's Nutcracker."
