JAMESTOWN – The Nutcracker returns to the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts this Holiday Season and, on Thursday, our cameras got a sneak peak at some of the show’s famous dances.
Students from the Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet will put on the performance for its thirty year.
Artistic Director Monika Alch has directed the show since 2000. She says the performance has become a tradition in the Jamestown Community.
“We were thinking maybe we skip the Nutcracker and do something else like another Christmas show,” Alch said. “But then we decided it’s become a tradition. People keep coming back!”
Senior Performer Megan Stefanik will take the stage for her final time with the Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet as she is set to graduate high school next spring.
Stefanik hopes to go to college for dance and one day would like to be part of a dance company.
“Doing a full length production like this really gives a feel of how that all works,” Stefanik said. “It’s a small area, not a lot of places like this (Jamestown) have big productions like this. It’s great to have that here.”
Stefanik says without the Ballet, she would have to commute to Buffalo to pursue her passion. She also notes some students would not have access to this program elsewhere.
The Nutcracker will debute at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts Friday, December 15th at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 16th at 2 p.m.
Reserved seating tickets for all public performances are on sale now and available through the Reg Lenna Box Office (716-484- 7070) or online at www.reglenna.com.