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Favorite Nutcracker Dancers from Champaign-Urbana Ballet To Teach Online

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Learn a bit of ballet Dec. 19-20 from the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Rat Queen, and their Nutcracker friends

Editor’s note: CU Ballet is a sponsor of Chambanamoms.

The stage at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts was dark in early December. No costumed fairies, mighty soldiers, tiny cows, or magically growing Christmas trees graced the stage of the Tryon Festival Theatre to re-tell the traditional story of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince.

However, the dancers at CU Ballet have some Nutcracker magic to spare, and they would like to share it — for FREE — with their littlest fans Dec. 19-20.

Sugar Plum fairy from CU Ballet
(photo from CU Ballet)

CU Ballet will be “Bringing Nutcracker Magic to You” this weekend, in the form of 30-minute Zoom sessions with several audience favorites from the Nutcracker. Zoom hosts will include the Sugar Plum Fairy, Clara, the Ice Fairy, and even the Rat Queen (with a Mouse assistant). See the times for individual Zoom events below.

To reserve your child’s spot, email kay@cuballet.com. Participant spots are limited so don’t delay!

Clara dancing with Nutcracker doll

For the past two decades, CU Ballet has collaborated with groups such as the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra to put on their lavishly staged production of the Nutcracker. What you may not know is that education and community outreach are also a key part of CU Ballet’s mission. Past Nutcracker productions have included outreach to local public schools, with free performances for school groups and curriculum packets provided to teachers by the Krannert Audience Education Department.

Or consider the CU Ballet’s annual Student Production, when the more experienced dancers in the Senior Company take charge of all facets of a performance — directing, choreographing, costuming, designing sets — starring the younger dancers of the company. Even during the upheavals of the pandemic, student productions have continued remotely and adapted to online performance, with video editing now a part of the Senior Company dancers’ skill sets.

Rat Queen with mice, CU Ballet
Photo provided by CU Ballet.

The CU Ballet values its relationships with the local community, and is offering these holiday Nutcracker zooms to bolster those relationships. We are all looking forward to when the magic of the Nutcracker returns to the stage.

Bringing Nutcracker Magic to You

Saturday, Dec. 19

Sunday, Dec. 20

Each session will feature half dancing and half crafting. Parents who sign up their child will receive a return email with the Zoom link along with a supply list for the craft. Participants are encouraged to wear their favorite dancing costumes; make sure your child will have a safe space to dance in view of the camera. Email kay@cuballet.com to reserve a spot or to ask any questions.

Check our post here for other ways to experience The Nutcracker this holiday season.

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