Founded in 1956 by Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino and now directed by Ashley Wheater, the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago is one of the premier dance troupes of the world. This weekend, the future faces of dance will perform alongside them as Dance St. Louis presents the holiday classic The Nutcracker at the Fox Theatre.
More than 100 local dancers will join the holiday classic performance – including Rachel Madison Gray, Vernesha Jackson and Clayton Wright.
“It is really fun to be in a professional company. I really like to dance,” Jackson, who studies dance at COCA, said. “I am very excited and happy to dance with new and old friends. My family gets to see me too.”
Wright, a member of Tammy’s Tumbling & Dance Center and wanted to work on his ballet skills. He cannot wait to see all his friends and family when he performs. “I look forward to smiles from everyone,” Wright said.
Executive director of Dance St. Louis, Michael Uthoff knows how the lasting memories the children and parents will have being in such a classic production.
“A memory they’ll treasure forever (children), to see a child accomplish something is special, very fulfilling and it’s a memory for parents to see,” Uthoff said.
Uthoff is a choreographer who has staged his own version of Nutcracker for Hartford Ballet and Ballet Arizona.
The local dancers—59 in each of the six performances—portray party guests, toy soldiers, dolls, mice, “polichinelles,” and Christmas angels.
The children won their roles at open auditions held in St. Louis on September 19 and have been rehearsing every weekend since then. They range in age from seven to 15 and are from both Missouri and Illinois. They attend 88 different elementary, middle and high schools and 34 different dance schools.
“I put in a lot of work to the point where my feet hurt,” said Gray, who is a student of The Studio Art of Dance in O’Fallon. “I am excited about people seeing the Nutcracker and the magic of the production.”
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, December 3; at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 4; and at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday, December 5. The story of the ballet will be read to children in the Fox’s Marquee Room 45 minutes before every performance. Tickets range from $25 to $75 and are available through MetroTix at 314-534-1111, online at dancestlouis.org, and all MetroTix outlets including the Fox Theatre box office at 547 N. Grand in St. Louis.
