Marin Ballet Nutcracker December 8, 2012

Sat Dec 8 at 1pm & 7pm; Sun Dec 9 at 1pm & 5pm

Marin Ballet, a premier classical ballet training center based in Marin County, is pleased to announce its annual Nutcracker performance, December 8-9, 2012, Marin Veterans' Memorial Auditorium, San Rafael. The 2012 production, choreographed by Julia Adam (formerly of San Francisco Ballet), opens Marin Ballet's 50th Anniversary season. More than 200 Marin Ballet dancers ages 8-18 perform in this annual full-length production. This year the student dancers will be joined by guest artists including Memphis Ballet's Travis Bradley and Diablo Ballet's Robert Dekkers.

"It is an amazing privilege for me to work with Marin Ballet during its 50th anniversary season. I feel incredibly fortunate to work with so many talented people of all ages and share my love of dancemaking," said Julia Adam.

Marin Ballet's Nutcracker has played to nearly 250,000 people and has become a treasured holiday tradition among Marin residents over the past 50 years. This year's cast includes: ten female alumni dancers, representing every era and production performed by Marin Ballet, participating in the Party Scene with newly designed costumes. Some of the alumni performers include: Georgia Thunes playing Clara and Fritz's mother alongside her son Virgil Thunes (as Fritz), Holly Stern and Elaine O'Malley, formerly of Het Nationale Ballet (Dutch National Ballet). In addition, the roles of other Party Parents will be performed by the following alumni: Moira (Perry) O'Neal, Whitney (Lee) McEachern; Board Member Jon O'Halloran and his wife Haven (Dorado) O'Halloran; and Hiromi Yamazaki of Diablo Ballet and Robert Dekker's Post:Ballet. Mr. Dekkers will be performing the role of Nutcracker Boy. Marin Ballet student Paige Shaw (Miss Redwood Empire's Outstanding Teen) will perform the role of Clara.

Official Website: http://marinballet.org/perf_nutcracker.html