CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman Ballet Theatre School presented its first full production of “The Nutcracker,” where all performances quickly sold out. There were two different casts that gave performances. Cast A performed on Dec. 3 and 11, while Cast B performed on Dec. 4 and the 10. Cullman Ballet Theatre Schools Artistic Director Elaine Willingham spoke about the reason she had not done The Nutcracker before, saying, “I’ve been busy doing ‘Swan Lake,’ ‘Sleeping Beauty,’ ‘Coppelia,’ ‘Raymonda,’ ‘La Sylphide,’ ‘La Bayadere,’ all the other story ballets, and most of these children that I taught all these years were not familiar with. Everybody knows the Nutcracker story even if you don’t like ballet, but now that I have my own theatre, this is our new tradition, and we are the only ones in Cullman that are doing the full story of the Nutcracker.” The choreography was designed after the original story and restaged by Elaine Willingham and Anna Lanier.
Cast B performed at the Friday, Dec. 10 show. The performers were:
The Party
Clara: Teagan Ashby
Fritz: Warren Clark
Parents: Jason and Kelly Clark
Drosselmeyer: Caroline Jackson
Party girls: Olivia Daniel, Violet Lanier, Chloe Wilhite
Party boys: Caroline Dowdy, Joscelyn Lewis, Evelyn Riggs
Party parents: Chloe carter, Madeline Rigs, Nick Hensley, Kelsey Hensley, Olivia Williams, Kell Wilson
Maids: Anna Lanier, Clara Lanier
Harlequin Doll: Emma Dodd
Moor Doll: Cynthia Oden
The Dream
Nutcracker prince: Levi Stricklin
Mouse King: Liam Lanier
Soldiers: Alexandria Jones, Olivia Lloyd, Isabella Robinson, Rylee Weems
Mice: Anna James O’jard, Ellery Clair Harris, Emmerson Hensley, Aurellia Powell
Icicles: Olivia Daniel, Caroline Dowdy, Joscelyn Lewis, Mollie Moon
Snowflakes: Lennon Ashby, Gracie Collins, Emma Dodd, Emma Hart, Esther Lanier, Allison Smith, Sophia Zalusky
Act II
Land of the Sweets
Angels: Alexandria Jones, Olivia Lloyd, Aurellia Powell, Evelyn Riggs, Isabella Robinson
Sugar Plum Fairy: Lennon Ashby
Spanish: Allison Smith, Sophia Zalusky
Arabian: choreographed and performed by Chloe Carter
Chinese: Davis Hackbarth, Mollie moon, Chloe Wilhite, Gracie Collins
Russian: Andrea Austin, Natalie Clark
Mother Ginger: Anna Lanier
Clowns: Olivia Daniels, Caroline Dowdy, Ellery Clair Harris, Emmerson Hensley, Joscelyn Lewis, Anna James O’jard, Evelyn Riggs, Rylee Weems,
Dew Drop Fairy: Lennon Ashby
Flowers: Andrea Austin, Gracie Collins, Emma Dodd, Davis Hackbarth, Natalie Clark, Noley Morring, Lacey Russell, Allison Smith, Emma Hart
The CBT was established by Elaine Willingham in 1973. Due to its continued growth, the school is now in its third location. CBT is a classical and contemporary dance school with classes in: Ballet, Pointe, Variations from story ballet repertory, Jazz, Tap and Adult beginner ballet. All are invited to visit the Ballet Theatre School and observe classes anytime.
Copyright 2021 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
