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The Nutcracker: Holiday tradition at Sanderson

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Ballet Jorgen’s The Nutcracker, a holiday tradition now in its 25th year, will be performed at the Sanderson Centre at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

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“With that tradition comes an industry tradition of including youth in those performances,” says Clea Iveson, education manager and rehearsal director for Ballet Jorgen. “We fully embrace it for the value that it has for young dancers.”

Iveson says youth have the opportunity to experience the trajectory that a dancer must take to be in a professional production.  The children are also exposed to the lifestyle, expectations and discipline required to be a professional artist in this field.

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“We always make sure we have fun,” Iveson says of the family-like atmosphere in the dance company. “It is important for these youth to feel that they are part of something beyond their current experience – this way they will strive for more in their training.”

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Thirteen-year-old Zach Morriss, a student at Academy of Dance in Brantford has the lead role in Ballet Jorgen’s The Nutcracker, being performed Sunday, December 8 at the Saderson Centre. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Thirteen-year-old Zach Morriss, a student at Academy of Dance in Brantford has the lead role in Ballet Jorgen’s The Nutcracker, being performed Sunday, December 8 at the Saderson Centre. SUBMITTED PHOTO Photo by Brian Thompson /Brian Thompson/The Expositor

Thirteen-year-old Zach Morriss of Brantford is making his third appearance in The Nutcracker. With 10 years of dance experience under his belt in a number of disciplines, Zach portrayed a bear cub and a frog in previous performances as a member of the local cast.

This season, Zach landed the lead role of the Nutcracker. He has been touring with Ballet Jorgen to a number of shows around Ontario, including in Sault Ste. Marie and Orillia.

“It’s scary going up there,” Zach says about stepping onto the Sanderson stage in front of a big crowd.

“All of my friends are coming to watch, so it’s pretty exciting.”

Momoka Matsui & Daniel Da Silva as Lord and Lady Birch, in Ballet Jorgen’s The Nutcracker being performed Sunday, December 8 at the Sanderson Centre in Brantford, Ontario. Photo by Katherine Wong.
Momoka Matsui & Daniel Da Silva as Lord and Lady Birch, in Ballet Jorgen’s The Nutcracker being performed Sunday, December 8 at the Sanderson Centre in Brantford, Ontario. Photo by Katherine Wong. Photo by Katherine Wong /Katherine Wong

The youth cast is split into two groups, so each takes part in half of the tour stops, which also will see the Academy of Dance student performing in Guelph, Markham and at the National Ballet School in Toronto.

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Zach says one of the things he likes best about the experience is that “I get my photo taken with all the people who came to watch, in the lobby after the show.”

Chloe Pfeiffer of Brantford is the local rehearsal assistant, and has been working with the 14 area dancers in the local cast each Sunday since September.

“I have witnessed such hard work and dedication, and I am excited to see the final result at the performance this Sunday,” Pfeiffer says.

“It has been such a great experience as the rehearsal director because when I was a young dancer, I performed with Ballet Jorgen in the Brantford local cast in their Nutcracker performance.”

bethompson@postmedia.com
@EXPbthompson

Mother Spruce with local participant Chipmunks and Squirrels in Ballet Jorgen’s The Nutcracker being performed Sunday, December 8 at the Sanderson Centre in Brantford, Ontario. Photo by Lance Gitter
Mother Spruce with local participant Chipmunks and Squirrels in Ballet Jorgen’s The Nutcracker being performed Sunday, December 8 at the Sanderson Centre in Brantford, Ontario. Photo by Lance Gitter Photo by Lance Gitter /Brian Thompson/The Expositor
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