MCCC’s Kelsey Theatre Presents Two Versions Of THE NUTCRACKER

Celebrate the holiday season with festive dance and music. "The Nutcracker" will be retold in two beautiful adaptations at Mercer County Community College's Kelsey Theatre in December. Both events take place at MCCC's Kelsey Theatre, located on the college's West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road.

The New Jersey Youth Ballet, under the direction of David Kieffer, will magically transport family audiences to the Land of the Sweets in a one-hour, fully narrated version of "The Nutcracker" on Friday, Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 17 and 18 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Set in 19th century Europe with music by Tchaikovsky, children and teen dancers will recapture classic Nutcracker moments in a world where mice and toy soldiers do battle and snowflakes dance in a beautiful wintry forest. After each performance, families are invited on stage to meet the dancers, get autographs and take pictures. Tickets are $14 for all ages. For more information about the company, visit www.newjerseyyouthballet.org.

The critically acclaimed Alborada Spanish Dance Theater presents "El Sueño" (The Dream), a Latin-inspired version of the Nutcracker Christmas ballet on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m. The entire family will enjoy this Three King's celebration as Clarita's dream takes her to the Land of the Majas, where her matador doll does battle with the Toro King. Led by Executive and Artistic Director Eva Lucena, the Alborada troupe features dancers of all ages in a performance that includes flamenco and other Spanish and Latin American music and dance traditions. The program is funded in part by the Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the Dorsey & Whitney Foundation and the American Music Center Live Music for Dance Program. Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors, and $12 for children and students. More information about the Alborada company is available at www.alboradadance.org.

Tickets for both productions may be purchased online at www.kelseytheatre.net or by calling the Kelsey Box Office at 609-570-3333.