‘The Nutcracker’ on display Dec. 2-3
This December marks a significant milestone for the Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet, under the Artistic Direction of Jennifer Beasley, as they proudly present the 30th Anniversary performance of the timeless classic, "The Nutcracker." The enchanting production will grace the stage at Jackson Academy's Performing Arts Center on December 2nd and 3rd, captivating audiences with its mesmerizing blend of dance, music, and holiday magic. International guest artists Daynelis Munoz and Josue Gomez will dance the lead roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. Kyler Durrence, a senior dance major at the University of Alabama, will dance the title role of The Nutcracker.
The timeless story of Clara and the Nutcracker Prince has delighted audiences of all ages for more than one hundred years. MMB’s version of the grand ballet takes Clara and the audience from the festive party scene of toys, soldier dolls, and puppets, through the magical Land of Snow and finally to the Land of Sweets. From the wondrous beauty of the Sugarplum Fairy, to the excitement of the mice and soldier battle scene, to the comical Mother Ginger and her Polichinelles, there is something to entertain everyone.
Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet, a non-profit ballet company based in Madison and a member of the prestigious Southeastern Regional Ballet Association, presents its annual production of The Nutcracker with participation from over 100 dancers from the metro Jackson area. Dancers are selected through an audition process from Mississippi Metropolitan Dance Academy students. The Mississippi Metropolitan Dance Academy is the official school of the Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet.
Guest artist Daynelis Munoz trained at the prestigious Cuban National Ballet School, and is a former dancer with the Cuban National Ballet, Mexico Ballet and Tulsa Ballet. Josue Gomez has danced with both the English National Ballet and the Birmingham Royal Ballet in Great Britain. Both dancers have won numerous medals in International Ballet Competitions.
Additional guest artists include Kyler Durrence, a senior dance major at the University of Alabama, as The Nutcracker and Dexter Bishop, a Clinton native, MMB alumnus and former professional dancer with Missouri Ballet Theatre, as Herr Drosselmeyer The role of Clara will be danced by 17 year old MMB dancer and MMDA student Rebecca Trowbridge, who is a senior at Madison Ridgeland Academy. Emily Garner, a junior at Madison Central High School, will perform the role of the Snow Queen. Hart Maley, a senior at Jackson Prep, and Eleanora Ellis, a senior at Northwest Rankin High School, will both perform the role of the Dew Drop Fairy.
The Nutcracker is the perfect way to ring in the holiday season and to introduce audience members of all ages to the power and beauty of classical dance. “At the heart of Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet's mission is our quest to share the magic of dance with the people of our community, and to encourage a
love of the arts in the hearts and minds of our audience members,” says Beasley. “We are proud to have presented our annual production of The Nutcracker to our community for the past thirty years; it is both our most important outreach tool, offering many in our community their first exposure to the ballet, but also a time-honored holiday tradition. It is just not the holiday season without The Nutcracker!
Performances are scheduled for 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 2nd and 2:00 and 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 3rd. Journey into the Land of Sweets following the matinee performances, where guests can meet characters, have their passports stamped, and enjoy festive treats. This immersive experience is a perfect way to extend the magic beyond the stage. Tickets are sold separately for the Land of Sweets event. Tickets for the performances and the Land of Sweets Event can be purchased online at msmetroballet.com. For information call 601-853-4508.
Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet is generously sponsored in the 2023-24 season by The Mississippi Arts Commission, The National Endowment for the Arts, Harper, Rains, Knight & Co, The Gertrude Ford Foundation, Cadence Bank, and BlueCross BlueShield of Mississippi.