Stepping Out

The Nutcracker sparkles on local stages

The holiday treat returns in its varied interpretations

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The Sugar Plum Fairy and various figments of a young girl’s dream are ready to delight us during this festive month. The holiday classic continues to sparkle around the area with assorted versions to choose from, along with other holiday treats that are sure to warm our hearts and souls.
Here are some of the season’s top picks.

The Nutcracker by Leggz Ltd. Dance
The Nutcracker season on Long Island opens with the Rockville Centre-based Leggz Ltd. Dance’s annual full-length staging of the beloved ballet, accompanied by the South Shore Symphony Orchestra, in what has become a long-standing tradition. A live 70-piece orchestra performing the glorious Tchaikovsky score adds to the appeal of the production, which runs for the three performances this weekend.
The Leggz version of the holiday classic, presented with the Rockville Centre Guild for the Arts, features dancers from the American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Alvin Ailey, Paris Opera Ballet, Ballet X, Royal Ballet, Joffrey Ballet Chicago, Atlanta Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, the Broadway show “Movin’ Out,” Twyla Tharp’s dance revue “Come Fly Away,” and the upcoming Broadway production of “An American in Paris.” As always, over 100 young dancers from the area join these professionals in this dynamic staging that always charms audiences. This year’s performance features 11-year-old Danielle Field as Clara. The Long Beach resident, who has been dancing since she was six, is appearing in her second ‘Nutcracker’ with the troupe. She was a Polichinelle in last year’s production. The Prince is played by Jean-Paul Duchatellier, 11, of Malverne. He has been studying ballet since he was three and has been performing in The Nutcracker since age six. He was seen last year as Fritz.
Rockville Centre’s Caroline Lethbridge, 16, appears in the Chinese Tea dance. A junior at South Side High School, she has been performing in The Nutcracker since she was five.

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