Syracuse City Ballet to stage traditional ‘Nutcracker’ featuring local professional dancers and students

Syracuse City Ballet

Dancer Claire Solis, who grew up in Syracuse and is the daughter of SCB co-founder Kathleen Rathbun, performs the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen in Syracuse City Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker, Dec. 2-4 at the Oncenter Crouse-Hinds Theater in Syracuse. Lucy Hamilton will dance the same parts in Cast B. Photo courtesy of Marc Safran

Magic and mystery return full force in Syracuse City Ballet’s upcoming performance of Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Ballet” Dec. 2 through Dec. 4 at the Crouse-Hinds Theater. More than 60 local children will be involved in various familiar roles, and approximately half of them will be dancing in the production for the first time.

The professional ballet company is noted for highlighting children from the corps in progressively difficult dances throughout their student years. But, as many as half of the current students were too young to dance in 2019 which, because of the Covid pandemic, was the last time the production was presented with a full cast.

Caroline Sheridan, SCB artistic director, is directing the Nutcracker for the first time, but she is not new to the ballet. She has danced many of the roles, including that of the Sugar Plum Fairy, considered the most physically demanding part. Her favorite dance is that of the coffee pas de deux because of its sensuality and its contrast to the rest of the ballet. She joined Syracuse City Ballet in 2019.

“Our Nutcracker ballet is special because it has become an annual event for people of the region,” Sheridan said. “The artists you see on stage reside and work right here in Central New York, so it’s not only a beautiful tradition, it’s also a celebration of local talent.”

One nod to local talent and tradition is apparent in the casting of Claire Solis as the Sugar Plum Fairy/Snow Queen. Solis is the daughter of Syracuse City Ballet co-founder Kathleen Rathbun who, in 1996, created the company with Harriet Casey. Solis grew up dancing as she trained under her mother at Ballet and Dance of Upstate New York. Having subsequently studied with some of the nation’s most prominent dance instructors since age 16, she has been cast in leading roles with several prestigious companies. She made her Broadway debut in 2017.

Lucy Hamilton, in her second season with SCB, will dance the Sugar Plum Fairy/Snow Queen in Cast B. She began dance training at 3 and, at 16, moved to Florida to train at the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School. Her wide experience includes several performances of the Nutcracker as well as lead roles in other productions by renowned United States companies.

Guest artist Stéphano Candreva will dance as Cavalier/Snow King. Having performed with prestigious companies in North and South America, he is widely sought as a featured performer.

Lukas Figliozzi, who will dance the Nutcracker Prince, holds degrees from Manhattan College in dance and behavioral neuroscience. He was an apprentice with the New York Dance Project; this is his second season with SCB. Also dancing as a guest artist will be Darwin Black in the role of Drosselmeyer. His extensive experience as a dancer has led him to move into choreography, and he teaches, creates, and adjudicates dance throughout the United States.

North Syracuse Junior High School ninth grader Penelope Lane is cast in the coveted role of Clara. She trains at Ballet and Dance of Upstate New York, where she has been a student for 10 years. She especially enjoys performing in the party scene. Katie Klaczko (Cast A) and Leonor Piatkowski (Cast B) perform as her brother, Fritz.

The familiar tale in “The Nutcracker” libretto is an adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s 1816 short story, “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.” The first performance was in December 1892. Like many modern companies, Syracuse City Ballet has abandoned the stereotypes used in former productions in favor of more inclusive characters and images.

THE DETAILS

What: Syracuse City Ballet performs Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite” ballet

Where: Crouse-Hinds Theater, 411 Montgomery St., Syracuse

When: Dec. 2 at 6 p.m.; Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.; Dec. 4 at 2 p.m.

Music: Tchaikovsky’s score will be played from a recording

Tickets: Available through Ticketmaster or by phone at 315-435-212

Cost: $20 to $75 plus fees with half off for children under 12

Run Time: Two hours, including intermission

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