Dances Patrelle's 'The Yorkville Nutcracker' Returns Dec.6-9

Dances Patrelle's The Yorkville Nutcracker will have its 9th annual production, at The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College (68th Street between Park & Lexington Avenues) NYC; December 6-9.  Once again The Yorkville Nutcracker will have students from: Ballet Academy East, Studio Maestro, The Ailey School and 92nd St Y Harkness Dance Center. 

The two-act ballet has been choreographed by Artistic Director, Francis Patrelle.  It has set design by Gillian Bradshaw-Smiths, costumes by Rita B. Watson, and lighting by David Grill.  The cast will feature special guest artists: Stephen Hanna (New York City Ballet) & Abi Stafford (New York City Ballet).

"The Yorkville Nutcracker begins on a snowy Christmas Eve in 1895 and New York City's newly elected mayor William L. Strong is hosting a party at Gracie Mansion for his children, Mary and Putnam.  Among those attending this special holiday celebration are dignitaries and businessmen from foreign nations, the owners of the mansion – the Babcock's – and NYC Police Commissioner Teddy Roosevelt.  As a Christmas present from her uncle, Mary receives her beloved Nutcracker, which later at the party her brother breaks.  The distraught Mary falls asleep and in her dreams, the Nutcracker is saved.  The two of them share an adventure in which they delight in a magical sleigh ride leading them to the frozen lake in Central Park.  There the Snow King and Queen ice skate as the lights of the Dakota apartment building shine brightly in the night sky," explain press notes…

"Act II commences with Mary and Putnam with the Snow Queen being transported to the Crystal Palace at the Bronx Botanical Gardens where they are presented as heroes to the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Kingdom of the Sweets.  Dances are performed to remind the audience of the various nationalities of the guests at Mayor Strong's party – Spanish, Arabian, Chinese, Russian, French and Dutch.  The dancing culminates in a Grand Pas de Deux by the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier.  On Christmas morning the children awake from their dreams and exchange gifts back at Gracie Mansion."

Dances Patrelle, reinventing dramatic dance, was founded in 1988. One of the goals is to bring dramatic dance to all audiences, through a collaborative process which blends music, drama, and history.  dP's goals are to expand the awareness and appreciation for dramatic ballet; to preserve the works of Francis Patrelle and to provide an opportunity for further choreographic expression as well as present other choreographers' dramatic ballets and a forum for those works.  Also dP provides a forum by which experienced dancers can share in a mentoring relationship with young dancers, and contribute to their evolution as performers and artists and also to provide maturing dancers the opportunity to expand their art through new choreographic works.

Performances of Dances Patrelle The Yorkville Nutcracker are Thursday at 7 PM, Friday at 7 PM, Saturday at 2 PM and 7 PM and Sunday at 12 Noon and 5 PM.  Tickets are $85, $55 & $40.  For reservations call dP (212) 722-7933.  Tickets can be purchased at The Kaye Playhouse box office at (212) 772-4448.  Rush tickets will be available 1 hr before show. www.dancespatrelle.org