A Season of Holiday Magic
The Little Nutcracker
Experience the magic of the holiday season with a delightful twist on a classic holiday tale with Ohio Contemporary Ballet formerly Verb Ballets in the production of The Little Nutcracker. The new one hour ballet showcases the elegance of classical ballet through enchanting characters like the graceful Dew Drop Fairy and a lively party scene choreographed by Associate Director, Richard Dickinson. Accompanying the professional dancers on stage are the talented students from community partners along with our dedicated adult community students. This captivating ballet is an ideal holiday tradition for families and a wonderful introduction to the world of classical ballet for young children. This new version is crafted to ignite the holiday spirit in audiences of all ages, kindling the imagination with the enchantment of the season.
The Little Nutcracker
with the Youth Academy
November 11 & 12, 2023
Ohio Contemporary Ballet Center
Shaker Heights, OH 44120
The Little Nutcracker
with ArtSparks and the University of Akron Dance Institute
December 2, 2023
Firestone Theatre
Akron, OH 44313
The Little Nutcracker
with Wilhelm Dance
December 9 & 10, 2023
Lakewood Civic Auditorium
Lakewood, OH 44107
The Little Nutcracker
The storyline follows Clara, a young ballet student, on a magical Christmas Eve journey. After receiving a Nutcracker doll from the mysterious Drosselmeyer at her family’s holiday party, Clara descends into a fantastical world when the clock strikes midnight. Her Nutcracker comes to life to battle an army of giant mice, led by the fearsome Mouse King. When the Nutcracker appears to be near defeat, Clara throws her slipper at the Mouse King, allowing the Nutcracker to vanquish his enemy. Transformed into a handsome prince by Drosselmeyer, the Nutcracker leads Clara through the Land of Snow into the Kingdom of Sweets.
In the Kingdom of Sweets, Clara and the Nutcracker Prince are welcomed by the Dewdrop Fairy and treated to a series of dances from various lands. These include Spanish chocolates, Chinese pretzels, Arabian coffee cordials, Austrian ribbon candies, and Russian cookies. The Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier also perform a graceful Pas de Deux. As a sign of friendship, Clara is invited to join the dancers, culminating in a breath-taking finale. As the Kingdom grows quiet and the dancers disappear, Clara is left sleeping, waking to discover it was all a wonderful Christmas dream.
About Ohio Contemporary Ballet (formerly Verb Ballets)
For over three decades Ohio Contemporary Ballet, formerly Verb Ballets, has connected with the community in Northeast Ohio through dance performances and educational programs. We are inspired by the rich past, present and future of dance in our region and are proud to be your Ohio Contemporary Ballet (OCBallet).
The company vision is currently led by Dr. Margaret Carlson, former principal dancer for the original Cleveland Ballet, and Richard Dickinson, MFA, former Ohio Ballet dancer. As a ballet company, our vision is to bring reliably excellent performances that delight audiences with a variety of choreographic works. We invest in dance as an artform for international cultural exchange. OCBallet seeks to engage top dancers and choreographers that reflect diverse backgrounds across the country and globe.
We see ourselves as not just a dance company, but as a valuable asset that enriches the lives of our community through providing access to dance opportunities, classes and education. Housed at the Ohio Contemporary Ballet Center in the Cleveland suburb of Shaker Heights, we are committed to be a leader of artistic vibrancy in the Great Lakes region.
