bergenPAC Announces Holiday Events

NJ Ballet, The Nutcracker: For more than 40 years, New Jersey Ballet's Nutcracker has been cherished holiday tradition with three generations of families from Bergen to Cape May.

The founding of New Jersey Ballet created a profound change in the cultural landscape of New Jersey. Over the years, New Jersey Ballet has brought the magic of dance theatre to countless students, little children, senior citizens and adults of all ages. During its 26 week season, New Jersey Ballet performs a variety of works from classical, contemporary and jazz ballet at 10 venues throughout the state, and has toured nationally and around the world.

The repertory includes works choreographed by some of the greatest names in the world of dance: Balanchine, deMille, Tudor, Nebrada, North, Pourfarrokh, Taras, Sappington, Renvall, Tomal, Vernon, Vesak, Petipa, Chabukiany, Saint Leon and Bournonville. The company's artistic advisors include 3 of the greatest international dancers of the 20th century; Edward Villella, Eleanor D'Antuono and Leonid Kozlov, who coach the dancers in repertory they themselves danced at New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and the Bolshoi.

Brian Setzer Orchestra is a rock and roll dance party featuring holiday favorites Setzer-ized as well as many hits from Brian's catalog over the years including his days with The Stray Cats.
Setzer, who had grown up playing the baritone horn in school, often envisioned a rock guitar fronting a big band. In 1990, Setzer organized the orchestra, styled as a big band which included full sections of trumpet, trombone and saxophone players, and a rhythm section with Setzer on guitar and vocals, plus piano, string bass and drums. The orchestra began playing clubs in and around Los Angeles, and was eventually signed to Hollywood Records.

3-time Grammy-award-winner, Brian Setzer is a "Musician's Musician" credited with consistently taking chances with innovative and daring musical styles, while single-handedly resurrecting two forgotten genres of music (rockabilly in the '80's and swing in the '90's). Along the way he has scored chart-topping hits throughout his decorated career as founder/leader of the Stray Cats, his 18-piece Brian Setzer Orchestra, and as a solo artist.

If that wasn't enough, Setzer found tremendous success in redefining Christmas music for a generation desperately desiring something new and exciting around the holidays. The result was three best-selling holiday albums (Boogie Woogie Christmas, Dig That Crazy Christmas, Christmas Rocks!: The Best Of Collection) and an annual Christmas tour that has certainly become the most exciting annual rockin' Christmas event on the planet.

A Christmas Carol is a musical interpretation of the Charles Dickens classic, we first meet the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas Eve, as he is complaining about having to give his clerk, Bob Cratchit, the next day's holiday off. Maintaining that Christmas is merely "humbug," Scrooge refuses to contribute to the local charity's fund for the poor. He even refuses the invitation of his nephew, Fred, to join his family for a holiday celebration.

It is only later that night when he is visited by a succession of spirits - the ghost of his deceased partner, Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Yet-to-Come - that Ebenezer considers the consequences of his past and present actions and reconsiders his outlook on life. Grateful for a "second chance," Scrooge vows to help his fellow man - including Bob Cratchit and his frail little son, Tiny Tim - and is reunited with his family. Though it may have only been a dream, Ebenezer Scrooge is a changed man.

A Christmas Carol captures both the humorous and touching moments of the classic story with witty dialogue and fresh new songs, conveying Dickens' original message that the holiday season should be a "kind, forgiving, charitable time," a sentiment which still rings true today.