The Southwest Washington Dance Center’s performing company, Southwest Washington Dance Ensemble, will present their 26th annual production of the full-length holiday classic “The Nutcracker” in December.
The ballet will take place at Corbet Theatre on the Centralia College campus Dec. 15-17. Performance times are 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 15, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 16 and 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 17.
Tickets to “The Nutcracker” are $25 for adults and $18 seniors 62 and older, those under the age of 18 and members of the military.
This year’s production of “The Nutcracker” includes a cast of more than 130 dancers from the Southwest Washington Dance Center and children and adults from the Lewis and South Thurston counties.
Local performers with lead roles are Julia King as Heir Drosselmeier; Mark and Sandra Young and Stacy Jones and Warren Hall as Mr. and Mrs. Staulbaum; Matthew March as Mother Ginger and the Rat King; and Austyn Laufenberg and Ava McGregor as Clara. Dancing principal roles are Hannah Feaster, Myah O’Neill, Tanner Calder, Eva Reynolds, Amanda Brossard, Gideon Newkirk, Capri O’Neill and Anna Hoinowski.
“As always, the ballet is full of new choreography, costumes and lots of surprises,” stated a news release from the dance center. “This year’s production is sure to delight all Nutcracker fans. Even if you have come before, this year’s Nutcracker is not to be missed. The cast is very excited to share this year’s production with a continually supportive community. Each performer brings something special to their part, and with over 100 parts in the ballet, there is plenty for the eye and ear to feast on. It’s a magical experience for the whole family. One does not need to drive to Seattle or Portland to see a wonderful Nutcracker. This production truly rivals the big city productions with handmade costumes and sets created by gifted local artists. A faithful group of volunteers labor on costumes, props, all the behind the scene jobs and serve as the technical crew.”
This event is a major source of income for the Southwest Washington Dance Center, according to the release. As a nonprofit organization, it depends on grants and fundraisers to help meet its budget.
This year so far, the Southwest Washington Dance Center has received major sponsorships for “The Nutcracker” from Kiwanis, Advocate Printing, Butler Surveying, McGregor Auto and Muffler, B & L Automotive Corp., Scheibmeir, Kelly & Nelson P.S., John L. Scott Real Estate, Wagner Orthodontics, Bob Holland Insurance, Callisons, New Directions Counseling, Greg and Colleen Jones, Dynamic Collectors, Inc., Kirt Schmidt, Security State Bank, The Chronicle, KITI/Live 95, Allen and Brittany Unzelman, Scott and Leslie Wohld, and Cascade Community Health.
Tickets are available online at https://www.swwdance.org/ or by stopping by the dance center at 437 N. Market Blvd. in Chehalis. Tickets can also be purchased by calling 360-748-4789.
After Dec. 10, tickets will only be available online, at the box office of Corbet Theatre from 3 to 7 p.m. or by telephone. All seating is reserved. Tickets will be sold for a Thursday, Dec. 14, as a “pay what you can” only at the door, beginning at 6 p.m. The performance will begin at 7:30 pm.
For information regarding the Nutcracker Ballet visit the web site at www.swwdance.org or call 360-748-4789.
