Local Rahway Students and DANCE POWER Students to Perform in ARB's NUTCRACKER, Today

By: Nov. 19, 2016
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American Repertory Ballet (ARB), New Jersey's premier professional ballet company, will return to Rahway, N.J., this year with two performances of Nutcracker at Union County Performing Arts Center. ARB is celebrating its fifty-third year of performances of this classic holiday ballet. Furthering its connection with the local Rahway community, American Repertory Ballet recently held auditions for local Rahway children ages 6-10 years old (must be 6 by October 1st and must be between 44-50 inches in height) to perform alongside its professional dancers in Nutcracker on Saturday, November 19 at 2 p.m., and Sunday, November 20 at 1 p.m.

The mice take part in the famous battle scene in the ballet, where the main character, Clara, dreams that tiny mice in her living room grow giant and take on the army of toy soldiers and the Nutcracker prince. In late September, multiple children auditioned, and the students selected began rehearsing shortly thereafter. Those selected are required to commit time and effort to the weekly rehearsals, and for many, this is the first time they will perform in a professional production.

The six children who were selected to perform as this year's Nutcracker Community Mice range from 6-8 years old and are in 1-4 grades. This year's mice are: Anastasia Rachinsky, Laila Barden, Makayla Addison Slater, Raquelle Reinoso, Kaitlyn Lagun and Hailey Gatling .

"We are delighted to have the Rahway Community Mice for the second year!" says Douglas Martin, Artistic Director of American Repertory Ballet. "These lovely young dancers get a chance to perform on stage with the professional dancers of American Repertory Ballet and students from our affiliate school, the Princeton Ballet School in the professional production of the Nutcracker and it is an experience they will never forget."

The mission of American Repertory Ballet is "to bring the joy, beauty, artistry and discipline of classical and contemporary dance to New Jersey and nationwide audiences through public performances and to dance students through artistic and educational programs." This year's Community Mice Initiative aims at fulfilling this mission in an immersive way that will expose children to a professional environment and challenge them to achieve performance goals.

In a continuing effort to reach all community members, ARB offers a Sensory Friendly performance of Nutcracker on Sunday, November 20th at 1:00 p.m at UCPAC. Eden Autism Services is pleased to partner with the American Repertory Ballet in its efforts to make the thrill of professional ballet and live dance accessible for individuals with autism. For more information about Eden Autism Services visit www.edenautism.org or call (609)987-0099.

For more information about American Repertory Ballet please visit: www.arballet.org



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