Moscow Ballet's GREAT RUSSIAN NUTCRACKER Returns to the State Theatre for Two Shows on 12/10

The biggest Christmas experience of the year...see the original, direct from Russia, Moscow Ballet Great Russian Nutcracker! Enchant the whole family with larger than life puppets, magical winged clock, 60 foot growing Christmas tree and spectacular hand-made costumes and sets from Russia. Enjoy the splendor of this timeless, holiday classic at the State Theatre on Saturday, December 10th.

Moscow Ballet's production of the Great Russian Nutcracker will at 3:00pm and 7:00pm. Tickets are $43/$38 and $33 for children 12 and under and can be purchased by visiting the State Theatre Box Office, 453 Northampton Street, Easton, by calling 1-800-999-STATE, 610-252-3132 or online at www.statetheatre.org. Sponsored by B104, 69 WFMZ-TV, 100.7 WLEV, Lehigh Valley Magazine and lehighvalleylive.com+ The Express-Times.

2016 is the company's 24th consecutive year touring North America. The company features award-winning and rising star dancers, from Lilia Sabitova in 1994 to Alisa Voronova in 2014. The company performs 100+ engagements annually across Canada and in most of theUnited States' largest cities consistently receiving critical acclaim. In addition to public performances, Moscow Ballet dedicates resources to community engagement programs. The 23 year "Dance with Us" program shares the Russian Vaganova ballet training with over 5000 American dance students annually bringing them on stage in ancillary roles to perform side-by-side with the professionals. As has been the case in the past, local dancers from the PA Classical Ballet will be on stage in support of this production.

Direct from Russia, the classic Great Russian Nutcracker will entertain the whole family this Christmas. Experience the exceptional dancing of a company of almost 40, a 60-foot growing Christmas tree, new and spectacular hand-made costumes by Resident Designer Arthur Oliver, and stunning sets hand-painted in Russia and designed by multi-Academy Award nominee Carl Sprague. Moscow Ballet consistently garners critical acclaim for performances in 100+ cities from New York to Los Angeles, and Miami to Calgary. The production is known for its dedication to world peace: naming Act II the "Land of Peace and Harmony;" featuring a rose shooting cannon, and a stunning 2-person "Dove of Peace" with a 20' wingspan

Ekaterina Alaeva
Born in Kiev, Ekaterina Alaeva was most recently Principal Ballerina of the National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Ukraine and was bestowed with the title Honored Artist of Ukraine. She studied under L. Smorgachova and graduated from State College of Choreography in Perm in 1998.Perm, considered the third best ballet school in the world after Bolshoi and Mariinsky, in the Class of N. Silvanovich. Her graduating class concert was directed by Asaf Messerer, known as distinguished Principal Danseur, teacher and choreographer for the Bolshoi Ballet. Upon graduation she was invited to join the National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Ukraine in Kiev.

Kostyantyn Vinovoy

Kostyantyn Vinovoy became the principal soloist of the Kiev Municipal Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre immediately after graduating from the Kiev State Ballet School under Ballet Master Nobuhiro Terada. He won a top award at the world renowned Serge Lifar International Ballet Competition in Ukraine and is a brilliant principal dancer. He has frequently participated in "The Young Ballerina Festival" in Nagoya, Japan with which his Ballet Master Tekada has close ties.

For more info visit nutcracker.com and PAClassicalBallet.org

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