Hyde Park Faculty of Dance (HPSD), now in its thirty second yr of coaching, efficiency, and group, welcomes households and dance lovers to its annual, one-of-a-kind presentation of The Nutcracker. Performances are December 12–14 at Mandel Corridor on the College of Chicago campus, 1131 E. 57th Avenue, Chicago.
Since 1993, Hyde Park Faculty of Dance’s annual Nutcracker has thrilled Chicago audiences with a 200+ member forged mixing classical ballet, hip hop, breakdancing, up to date, AcroDance, faucet, West African, and Chinese language dance. From 7-year-olds to pre-professional and grownup group dancers, the present retains all ages hooked with vigorous narration. A fan favourite is HPSD’s tackle the basic battle scene that includes hip hop mice versus breakdancing troopers, in the end selecting to make use of the facility of hip hop to work out their variations via inventive self-expression, quite than resorting to violence.
Amber Echols, whose journey with HPSD began 25 years in the past when she was a scholar, is serving as Interim Creative Director this season whereas Founding Creative Director August Tye is on sabbatical. “I’m extraordinarily grateful to be on this new place,” mentioned Echols. “It appears like a full-circle second—from beginning out as a dancer in The Nutcracker on this very stage to directing this yr’s manufacturing. It’s been fantastic to observe the dancers’ pleasure throughout auditions and listen to them discuss their dream roles as a result of I used to be of their precise footwear greater than 20 years in the past.”
HPSD is dedicated to lowering obstacles to arts participation, not just for dancers however for audiences as properly. This yr, supported partially by a grant from the League of Chicago Theatres and ComEd, HPSD will broaden reside American Signal Language interpretation of its performances to welcome Deaf and arduous of listening to viewers members. An skilled theatrical interpreter will carry the manufacturing to life on stage, with interpretation built-in into The Nutcracker to create a extra partaking and inclusive expertise for all.
HPSD presents its youngest performers (ages 4–6) as a part of the particular Younger Dancers Vacation Pre-Present previous to each performances on Saturday, December 13.
The manufacturing additionally contains shock cameos by native VIPs within the larger-than-life position of Mom Ginger—this yr together with the first-ever Mom Ginger, Laura Freseman, coming back from New York Metropolis. Current visitor performers have included nationally acclaimed opera star Whitney Morrison, Hyde Park Financial institution Assistant Vice President and Enterprise Growth Officer Caprice Lindsay, and different distinguished leaders locally.
The Nutcracker takes place Friday, December 12 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, December 13 at 1 and 6 p.m.; and Sunday, December 14 at 2 p.m. at Mandel Corridor, 1131 E. 57th Avenue, in Chicago.
Common admission is $35 for adults, $25 for seniors (65+), $15 for kids ages 6–18 and faculty college students with college ID, and $5 for kids 5 and youthful (lap kids are free).
Particular $45 most well-liked part tickets can be found for all ages. Tickets can be found at 31109.danceticketing.com/.
