The Centralia Ballet Academy is returning with a full, in-person production of “The Nutcracker,” which, with any luck, will be free of the setbacks that have plagued previous years’ shows.
Notable challenges for the ballet academy’s signature holiday show started back in 2020, when live performances of “The Nutcracker” were canceled. Centralia Ballet Academy safely put the show on in a barn, filmed it, and released it as a movie via Amazon streaming that year, and was able to return to in-person shows in 2021 to a half-capacity theater.
Last year, the dancers put on the show to packed houses, but a few weeks before opening, two of the lead male dancers were in a devastating car accident that resulted in extended hospital stays.
The show went on with the help of an understudy and a former student who stepped into the roles, and the dancers who played the Snow Queen and Sugar Plum Fairy, who worked hard to help with the pas de deux choreography.
Fortunately, both boys eventually recovered and, over the past year, focused on their health and healing, Centralia Ballet Academy announced in a news release.
This December, one will return to perform his roles of Snow King and Cavalier, while the other will take on stage manager duties.
“Over the past 15 years, Centralia Ballet Academy has experienced its share of setbacks. But they were able to triumphantly meet every one of these challenges because they make it a priority not only to provide kids of Southwest Washington a safe and positive place to learn the art of dance but also to give the residents of their community the opportunity to engage in the arts,” Centralia Ballet Academy teacher Mickey Gunter said in a news release, where he called the academy’s production of The Nutcracker “a fun and festive way to kick off the holiday season, and a testimony to the power of art and community.”
Centralia Ballet Academy has been offering a full-length production of “The Nutcracker” since 2017.
As a way to celebrate the Nutcracker’s return to the stage, Centralia Ballet is working with The Salvation Army, the United Way and the Lewis County Foster Parent Association to offer free tickets to families in need.
Performances are 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2, and 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 3, at Centralia College’s Corbet Theater.
Tickets are $20 for children, students and seniors and $25 for adults. To purchase tickets, visit https://28019.danceticketing.com/r/events/.
