Beck Center Dance Presents NUTCRACKER... JAZZED UP! 12/3-4

Beck Center's Dance Workshop and Dance Education program present Nutcracker...Jazzed Up!, a contemporary twist on the classic Tchaikovsky tale, December 3 and 4, 2011 in the Recital Hall of the Music-Armory Building at Beck Center. Performance times are 4 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 3 and 1 and 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 4.

Performed by an ensemble of 60 dancers, Nutcracker...Jazzed Up! tells the endearing story of The Nutcracker in a nontraditional setting through ballet, contemporary dance, hip hop, jazz, and tap. This holiday production features original choreography by Melanie Szucs, Beck Center's associate director of Dance Education, and fellow faculty members Louise Hadaway, Wannetta Scott and Mimi Schwensen. Featured dancers include Alexandra Cassidy (Cleveland), Taylor Gerrasch (Rocky River), Julia Horner (Cleveland), Abby Schneider (Lakewood), Becky Steffen (Westlake), and Kelly Tomko (North Ridgeville).

Seating is reserved and tickets are $12 for adults/seniors and $10 for students/children 18 and under, including the service fee. To purchase tickets, visit beckcenter.org or call Customer Service at 216.521.2540, ext. 10. Beck Center is located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, just ten minutes west of downtown Cleveland. Free onsite parking is available.

On Saturday, December 10, the ensemble will perform the piece for residents at Lakewood Senior Health, Ennis Court and Eliza Jennings. This has become an annual tradition for Beck Center dancers who have shared their talents with the community during the holiday season for the past six years.

Beck Center's production of Nutcracker...Jazzed Up! is sponsored by Cox Communications. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this production with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. This production is also generously supported by the public through a grant from Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.

Beck Center for the Arts is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that offers professional Theater Productions, arts education programming in dance, music, theater, visual arts, early childhood, and creative arts therapies for special needs students, and gallery exhibits featuring regional artists.

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