Ballet MN--The Classic Nutcracker (2017)
Ballet Minnesota’s 30th annual The Classic Nutcracker, returns to the O’Shaughnessy! Come celebrate this annual family holiday tradition!
For novices to the ballet, this holiday story begins on Christmas Eve. We join a young girl, Clara, her mischievous brother, Fritz, and their family hosting a Christmas party. A latecomer to the party is Clara’s mysterious Godfather Drosselmeyer. He presents her with a marvelous gift, a Nutcracker doll.
As Clara goes to sleep that night, we are transported into her dream of the Rat King fighting the Nutcracker and his army of toy soldiers. The Nutcracker Prince escorts Clara through an enchanted snow-covered forest and on to his Kingdom of the Sweets where Clara accepts the throne from the Sugar Plum Fairy.
World renowned ballerina, Dusty Button will make her debut as the Sugar Plum Fairy. Ms. Button moved to New York to train at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at the American Ballet Theatre. In 2006 she was awarded the Bronze Finalist Medal at the Youth American Grand Prix. She later joined London's Royal Ballet School, in 2008 where she also performed professional roles at the Royal Opera House. She joined the Boston Ballet corps de ballet in 2012, was promoted to soloist in 2013 and principal in 2014.
World renowned Principal dancer, Rasta Thomas will make his debut as the Cavalier. Mr. Thomas studied martial arts before training in ballet at the Kirov Academy. Theater: Movin’ Out on Broadway (dir. Twyla Tharp), Carmen (dir. Rob Ashford), and Soul Possessed (dir. Debbie Allen). Film and television: Ted 2, One Last Dance with Patrick Swayze, So You Think You Can Dance, Never Stand Still, In Performance at the White House, and the Academy Awards. Featured principal with over 25 companies, including American Ballet Theatre, the Kirov Ballet and the legendary Dance Theatre of Harlem.