The Nutcracker

This December, the holiday season in Bergen County will sparkle a little brighter as Ballet Arts and the Adelphi Orchestra come together once again to present The Nutcracker at River Dell High School in Oradell. Performances will take place on Saturday, December 13 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 14 at 2 p.m., offering families and community members a festive tradition filled with music, storytelling, and timeless holiday enchantment. This year’s production marks several major artistic milestones. Ballet Arts will be commemorating its 50th anniversary in the new year, a legacy rooted in the vision of its founder, former American Ballet Theatre (ABT) soloist Diana Turner Hauser. The celebration also coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Radio City Rockettes, which the directors are celebrating; the 85th anniversary of ABT; and the 70th anniversary of the Adelphi Orchestra. Together, these institutions have a hand in bringing to the stage the only fully live-orchestra Nutcracker performance in Bergen County. Under the baton of Principal Conductor Kyunghun Kim, the Adelphi Orchestra will perform Tchaikovsky’s beloved score, adding dramatic depth and emotional resonance to the production. Maestro Kim shared his excitement about the collaboration, noting, “Ballet Arts and the Adelphi Orchestra make a great combination, and I’m so pleased to be a part of it.” The production will feature more than 150 hand-crafted costumes designed by Gisele Ferrari-Wong and fitted by Haruka Fujii. Ballet Arts dancers will be joined by guest artist Hoyeon Kim of ABT’s prestigious Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, whose technical brilliance and artistry bring new dimension to the role of the Nutcracker Prince. Kim has danced notable excerpts from Swan Lake and Coppélia and is a two-time Youth America Grand Prix medalist. Co-directors Jane Silane and Marilyn Westlake-Nichols—both former Rockettes—continue to guide Ballet Arts with the elegance, precision, and professionalism that defined their own performing careers. They reflect on the unique magic of the production: “There’s something truly magical about dancing with a live orchestra. It elevates their connection to the music and allows them to experience the energy of each note in real time.”

Event Links

Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/3359724-0

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