NJPAC and The Gateway Project to Present Free Preview, Workshop of THE HIP HOP NUTCRACKER, 12/10

Join NJPAC and The Gateway Project on Thursday, December 10 from 12:30pm-1:30pm for a FREE preview and dance workshop of the Arts Center's upcoming performance of THE HIP HOP NUTCRACKER. Leading the workshop, to be held at The Gateway Project (2 Gateway Center, 283-299 Market St., Newark), will be dancers Gabriel Alvarez and Sylvia Lavonne-Smith.

Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Gabriel Alvarez has won numerous competitions including Turner Evolution 2015 and So You Think You Can Hustle. He has danced in commercials for the U.S. Open, Canon, Panasonic, Herschel, and MTV, as well as for artists Kurtis Blow, Afrojack, New Politics, Martin Garrix, Borgeous, and Matt Hunter.

Sophia Lavonne-Smith hails from Portland, Oregon. A graduate of NYU's Gallatin School of Individualized Study, Lavonne-Smith received a grant to create and develop the school's first dance technique program with teachers from Broadway, the underground and commercial scenes. She has choreographed and performed for Nike Industrials, Microsoft, Seventeen Magazine, GE Medical, and MTVU artist Chino Maurice.

THE HIP HOP NUTCRACKER, last season's holiday sensation that had its sold out, world premiere at NJPAC, returns Sunday, December 19 at 3PM in Prudential Hall. THE HIP HOP NUTCRACKER reimagines Tchaikovsky's score through explosive choreography by Jennifer Weber and performed by eleven all-star dancers, DJ Boo, a live violinist, with special guest MC, the legendary Kurtis Blow.

NJPAC is the producer and co-commissioned, along with NYC's United Palace of Cultural Arts, this holiday classic, which is currently on a national tour with stops in Minneapolis, Charleston, Miami, and Atlanta among other US cities -- before concluding with a three-city tour in Russia. Don't miss this exclusive New Jersey engagement on Saturday, December 19th at 3PM, reserve tickets now at NJPAC.org or 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is among the largest performing arts centers in the United States and is the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey -- where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the state's and the world's best artists while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted more than 9 million visitors (including over 1.5 million children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents.

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