Nashville Ballet has selected 24 dancers from Rutherford County to perform in the youth cast for Music City’s favorite holiday tradition. Presented by Nashville Ballet, and sponsored in part by PNC Bank, Nashville’s Nutcracker returns to TPAC’s Jackson Hall Dec. 1-23, 2018.
This year’s youth cast marks the organization’s largest to date with 298 dancers from School of Nashville Ballet and the community at large performing alongside Nashville Ballet and members of the Nashville Symphony in this beloved favorite.
Nashville’s Nutcracker will feature the following young dancers from Rutherford County:
- Kyndal Aune, child of Kristin Aune, as a Medium Mouse
- Kyle Carter, child of Stephanie Carter, as Fritz
- Arabella Cianci, child of Jennifer Cianci, as a Dancing Bear Cavalry
- Annabella Colon, child of Emily and Carlos Colon, as a Medium Mouse
- Maya Colon, child of Emily and Carlos Colon, as a Garden Fairy
- Alexandria Days, child of Emily Days, as a Garden Fairy
- Samantha Everett, child of Viktoriya and Kenneth Everett, as a Garden Fairy
- Caitlin Field, child of Joey and Jacob Field, as a Commodore Cavalry
- Maddy Dare Grubb, as a Native American Soldier
- Brennan Holt, child of Katrin and Andrew Holt, as a Commodore Cavalry
- Gabriel Holt, child of Katrin and Andrew Holt, as an Infantry
- Kinsley Lane, child of Lisa and Rob Lane, as a Medium Mouse
- Grace Laney, child of Jeana and Jeff Laney, as a Russian Nesting Doll
- Kimora Lyons, child of Marion Lyons, as a Dancing Bear Cavalry
- Clare Mason, child of Amy-Beth Mason, as a Medium Mouse
- Cora McCollum, child of Melanie McCollum, as a Garden Fairy
- Madilyn Rigsby, child of Cari and Kevin Rigsby, as a Party Girl
- Isadora Romig, child of Stephanie and Ben Romig, as a Dancing Bear Cavalry
- Sway Rutledge, child of Cherie and Chad Rutledge, as a Commodore Cavalry
- Emma Sharpe, child of Amy Sharpe, as a Medium Mouse
- Lela Sisk, child of Jennifer and Brandon Sisk, as a Russian Nesting Doll
- Arabella Smart, child of Christina Smart, as a Frontier Soldier
- Jaidyn Smart, child of Christina and Nick Smart, as a Bon Bon
- Heidi Smith, child of Lindsay and Mike Smith, as a Commodore Cavalry
- Emma Thornhill, child of Brandi Thornhill, as a Dancing Bear Cavalry
This year Nashville’s Nutcracker youth cast members were selected from community-wide, open auditions. Members of the youth cast come from 11 counties throughout Middle Tennessee including Cheatham, Davidson, DeKalb, Dickson, Maury, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson.
They will perform alongside all 53 members of Nashville Ballet’s professional company and second company as well as 60 members of the Nashville Symphony. ͞
“We’ve had well over 1,000 young dancers take the stage in the Nashville’s Nutcracker youth cast over the years,,” Nashville Ballet Artistic Director Paul Vasterling said. ͞”The youth cast is such an integral part of the overall success of this larger than life production.”
Nashville Ballet premiered Nashville’s Nutcracker in 2008 with a unique concept weaving Music City’s glittering past with the awe-inspiring wonder of the classic tale. In its 11th season on stage, Nashville’s Nutcracker has cemented itself in the hearts of numerous patrons and young artists as a treasured holiday tradition.
About the Nutcracker
Beginning at the 1897 Centennial Exposition in Nashville, Clara and her Uncle Drosselmeyer meet a colorful cast of characters from faraway lands. When Uncle Drosselmeyer gifts Clara a wooden Nutcracker on Christmas Eve, the toy magically transforms to life as a handsome prince and leads her on an unforgettable adventure. Clara encounters a captivating collection of fascinating friends including everyone from the Snow Queen to the Sugar Plum Fairy, as well as the delightful characters she met at the Exposition. When Clara finally returns home, the audience is left to decide if it was all just a dream–or not. Advanced Sports Medicine and RJ Young are supporting sponsors for Nashville’s Nutcracker. Tickets start at $40 and can be purchased in person at the TPAC box office in downtown Nashville, by phone at (615) 782-4040 or at www.nashvilleballet.com. A complete performance schedule and more information can be found at www.nashvilleballet.com/nashvilles-nutcracker.
Photo Caption (Click to download photo) Twenty-four young dancers from Rutherford County will take the stage in Nashville’s Nutcracker running Dec. 1-23 at TPAC’s Jackson Hall.
