Sedona Chamber Ballet, Phoenix Ballet Company to Perform THE NUTCRACKER at Sedona Performing Arts Center, 12/6-7

Renowned dancer, choreographer and instructor Slawomir Wo?niak, former principal dancer with the Polish National Ballet in Warsaw, will provide artistic direction for the 2014 production of The Nutcracker at the Sedona Performing Arts Center, Dec. 6 and 7.

The production, a collaboration between the Sedona Chamber Ballet and Phoenix Ballet Company, where Wo?niak is artistic director, will feature professional dancers who have performed with Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Ballet Arizona, Moscow Ballet and Polish National Ballet alongside local dancers from Sedona and Northern Arizona in the iconic Tchaikovsky-composed holiday classic.

New York City-based dancer Madison Cole, who was recently featured in photographer Luis Pons' photo montage of 22 ballerinas in urban cityscapes in New York City, will perform as Dew Drop.

Tickets go on sale Oct. 15 and range from $15-$30. Tickets can be purchased online at www.sedonachamberballet.com.

"No holiday season is complete without the chance to experience the timeless story of The Nutcracker," said Sedona Chamber Ballet Company Chair Winnie Muench-First. "And this production brings the highest level of professional talent and staging to Sedona at the same time it offers our own aspiring dancers the opportunity to work with and learn from Phoenix Ballet Company dancers and choreographic team. We are particularly thrilled to have Slawomir Wo?niak providing artistic direction. "

Born No. 2, 1967, Wo?niak's professional debut came as the Prince in the 1986 Wroclaw Opera production of Cinderella. In 1988, he became a soloist and a year later the principal dancer of Teatr Wielki in ?ód?. In 1991, he joined the National Opera in Warsaw as first soloist and spent the next ten years as principal dancer. His many guest artist appearances include performances with the Bulgarian National Ballet and Greek National Ballet and, with his American partner, Kathleen Arcieci, won a bronze medal at the Third International Ballet Competition in New York in 1990.

Former Louisville Ballet Company artist Rachel Cahayla Wynne is the Ballet Mistress of The Nutcracker following her highly successful performance as the Sugar Plum Fairy in the 2013 production. She will be assisted by Patricia Quillian of Dance Sedona and Rachel Miller of Liberty Performing Arts Center in Cottonwood.

Rosemary Mays of Sedona is the Wardrobe Mistress.

For more information, visit www.sedonachamberballet.com.