GUELPH – Live at the Hippo Pool Events continues the Nutcracker tradition in Guelph.
Ballet Jörgen returns to River Run Centre on Dec. 22 and Dec. 23 at 7:30pm with performances of The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition.
This holiday season tradition continues to delight audiences year after year with festive charm and a uniquely Canadian take on the familiar story, officials say.
Set to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s music and choreographed by Bengt Jörgen, Ballet Jörgen’s Nutcracker is a delightful re-working of the family favourite. Created in collaboration with the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition features as backdrops three works by Canada’s Group of Seven landscape artists; Franklin Carmichael’s Church and Houses at Bisset (1931); Tom Thomson’s Snow in the Woods (1916); and L.L. FitzGerald’s Trees and Wildflowers (1922).
Set in the early 1900s in Northern Ontario, this maple Nutcracker brings to life the magical tale of a little girl’s Christmas dream and her grand journey through our northern landscapes.
A canoe gliding across the stage, marching Mounties, trilliums, snowflakes and familiar woodland animals all serve to anchor this ballet firmly in the Canadian home.
Each year, the walk-on role of Moose is filled by community leaders, some of whom return enthusiastically year after year. Young local dance students look forward to September auditions and the possibility of being a part of the Guelph Nutcracker performances, officials say.
This year, 19 local dancers were selected to participate in the Guelph performances, representing nine different dance schools in Harriston, Fergus, Guelph, Burlington and Waterdown.
These young dancers rehearse regularly at Royal City School of Ballet and Jazz located in downtown Guelph.
For the River Run performances, all seats are reserved. Regular adult tickets are $56 to $61$, senior tickets are $52 to $57 and youth tickets are $39 to $44.
Premier seating price is $86. Prices include HST; additional service charges may apply. Tickets are now on sale at River Run Centre Box Office at 519-763-3000 or 1-877-520-2408 or riverrun.ca.
