Westchester Ballet Company’s The Nutcracker
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN WESTCHESTER BALLET COMPANY’S HISTORY TWO LATINO YOUTH DANCERS WILL PERFORM LEAD ROLES AT THIS YEAR’S ANNUAL HOLIDAY PERFORMANCE OF THE NUTCRACKER AT LEHMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS IN THE BRONX
15-YEAR-OLD ELISA SCHATZ PLAYS CLARA AND 16-YEAR-OLD FLAVIO LALVAY PERFORMS NUTCRACKER
October 30, 2024 – Ossining, New York – Westchester Ballet Company (WBC), one of the oldest regional nonprofit youth ballet companies in the United States, returns to the esteemed Lehman Center for the Performing Arts in the Bronx for a fourth year this December, with its world-class production of The Nutcracker, presented by Montefiore Einstein. The lead Westchester Ballet Company dancers for this year’s The Nutcracker are Elisa Schatz (Clara) and Flavio Lalvay (Nutcracker), a role historically performed by an adult guest artist. This year marks the first time in Westchester Ballet Company’s history that two Latino youth dancers will perform the lead roles. Seventeen year-old Lily Rivera, who performed as Clara in 2022, and Clara and Dew Drop Fairy in 2023, will perform the roles of Snow Queen and Chocolate from Spain this year.
Discounted tickets for area school children and seniors are now available for performances on Thursday, December 12 @ 10:30am and 2:00pm and Friday, December 13 @ 10:30am. Two matinee performances are open to the general public at 2:00pm on Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15.
Amy Harte, Board President, Westchester Ballet Company remarked “Each year, we see milestones achieved that are core to our mission – to ensure ballet and the performing arts reach all children, particularly those who are in need of the support from their community. This year alone we’ll have provided over 4,500 low cost tickets to our Nutcracker performances.
Since our first school matinee at Lehman Center in 2022, we have more than doubled our attendance of local school groups. This year’s cast of The Nutcracker features 83 dancers representing 23 different dance schools and gymnastic studios from around the region. Many of our first-time participants are dancing with us because of having seen our Nutcracker performances at Lehman.”
The generous underwriting support from our sponsors means that no school group is turned away for lack of resources. These supporters include Montefiore Einstein, Freedom Mortgage, and Hudson Valley Estate Planning.
TICKETS for The Nutcracker performances are available at TheNutcrackerWestchesterBallet.org; LehmanCenter.org; by phone at (718) 960-8833; or at Lehman Center Box Office located at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY, 10468
Tickets range from $10-$15 for schools and senior groups on Dec 12 & 13, and $25-$55 on Dec. 14 & 15. This production is part of Lehman Center’s Performing Arts Series which receives support from GOYA.
About The Nutcracker
Westchester Ballet Company’s The Nutcracker is a full-length, world-class production of the beloved holiday classic featuring a cast of 102 dancers from the Bronx to Garrison. This sumptuous ballet, set in 1830s Europe, tells the story of young Clara as she travels on a magical journey on Christmas Eve with the fantastical Nutcracker at her side.
This year’s production includes an international cast of seven professional guest artists including: Plu Sayambol (Mother Ginger), Craig Wasserman (Snow King), Jean Logrea (Uncle Drosselmeyer), and Nick Logrea (The Butler, Mouse King); Fadi Khoury (Coffee from Arabia), and two former youth soloist with WBC, Rebecca Tschan (Dew Drop Fairy) and Julianna Brown (Coffee from Arabia).
About Westchester Ballet Company
Currently celebrating its 75th year serving Westchester County and the outer boroughs of New York City, WBC’s mission centers on the belief that communal arts experiences are essential, and that by providing dance education and performance experiences for its young dancers, along with affordable access for its audience members, it is helping to strengthen our shared community. WBC partners with other nonprofit organizations that provide low cost/no-cost access to its performances to under-resourced individuals and groups in the community.
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Media Contact Christine Black / [email protected] 917-402-9063
Photos westchesterballet.org/media-resources
Tickets TheNutcrackerWestchesterBallet.org
Instagram @westchesterballetcompany
About Westchester Ballet Company
Westchester Ballet Company (WBC) is an independent 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of our community through the art of ballet. WBC is committed to nurturing excellence and eliminating barriers by serving three core constituencies in and around Westchester County, NY: · Approximately 100 local schoolchildren in the public schools who receive free or low-cost ballet classes through our after-school programs. · Approximately 100 young dancers annually, ages 6-18, who receive specialized training and performance opportunities in professionally produced ballets marketed to the general public. Annual performances include The Nutcracker, Peter and the Wolf, and other repertory ballets. · Over 10,000 audience members each year who attend our affordable performances. How we bring our mission to life: · Eliminating financial barriers by providing financial aid and scholarships for dancers · Maintaining affordable ticket prices for audience members · Partnering with other nonprofits serving children and families in the community WBC Dancers train in ballet schools throughout the region. They become members of Westchester Ballet Company through open auditions that are held each year in September and January. Participation fees apply. Company dancers are eligible for merit scholarships and financial assistance that can be applied toward participation fees or tuition at the school or ballet training program of the dancer’s choosing.