Moscow Classical Ballet Presents THE NUTCRACKER At Lehman Center for the Performing Arts 11/29

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts delivers the world of dance to the Bronx with The Moscow Classical Ballet's The Nutcracker. This exciting production will feature 50 of Russia's finest dancers, including graduates of the Moscow Choreographic Institute and the world-renowned Vaganova Academy of St. Petersburg. This favorite holiday classic never fails to enchant youngsters and grown-ups alike with amazing special effects, colorful costumes, gorgeous scenery, and glorious, breathtaking dancing that will fill the stage when the company makes a return visit on Sunday, November 29, 2009 at 6pm at the Concert Hall at Lehman Center, 250 Bedford Park Blvd. West on the campus of Lehman College in the Bronx.

Tickets for THE NUTCRACKER on Sunday, November 29, 2009 at 6pm are $35, $30 and $25 (tickets for children 12 and under cost only $10, any seat) and can be purchased through 24-hour online access at www.LehmanCenter.org or by calling the Lehman Center box office at 718-960-8833 (Mon. through Fri. 10am-5pm; Tues 10am-7pm and beginning at 12 noon on the day of the concert). Lehman Center is accessible by #4 or D train to Bedford Park Blvd., and is right off several major highways, including the Henry Hudson Parkway, the Saw Mill River Parkway and Major Deegan Expressway. Free on-site parking is available.

The Moscow Classical Ballet came into existence as the Young Ballet, the USSR State Choreographic Company, in 1966. It was established by the USSR Ministry of Culture as a ballet troupe whose role was to tour the Soviet Union and foreign countries performing Russian classical ballet in its traditional form.

The company, under the artistic direction of Igor Moiseyev, gave its first performance in 1968. Its repertoire consisted of excerpts from classical ballets and choreographic miniatures produced by such choreographers as Vinogradov, Goleizovsky, Messerer and Moiseyev himself.

In 1986, the company acquired a new status and its present name. This brilliant troupe has won more than 15 Gold Medals from international competitions and three prizes at the Paris Academy of Dance. Recently, the company was granted the title of "Academic Theatre" by the Russian government, a prestigious title only granted to a few top Russian ballet companies. The Moscow Classical Ballet remains one of the few Russian ballet companies still supported by the Russian government. Regularly performing at the Kremlin Palace of Congresses in Moscow, they have also performed in more than 30 countries around the world and over 200 cities in Russia. They have toured their production of The Nutcracker every year for nine years. They debuted Cinderella in the spring of 1998 and have recently added Swan Lake to their tour.

Lehman Center, the Bronx's premier concert hall for international dance, continues its stellar season with the first Bronx appearance of Alonzo King's Lines Ballet on Sunday, January 10, 2010 at 6pm and many more future events.

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council. Lehman Center also receives support from the New York State Council on the Arts. This performance is also proudly supported by the International Performance Series.