Ladies and gentlemen dancing at a grand party, children opening gifts and watching a puppet show…these scenes and more await you at the 2010 Nutcracker Ballet presented by the Red River Dance Theatre Company (RRDTC).  Sword fighting mice and soldiers, angelic dancers and swirls of snow give way to a succession of dancers portraying various characters in the “Land of Sweets.” 

Featured guest artists include Amy Earnest as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Lance Hardin dancing the role of Cavalier.  Amy Earnest is the Owner and Co-Artistic Director of Avant-Garde School of Dance in Denver, Colorado.  She has danced professionally with the Chautauqua Ballet, Hartford Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Tulsa Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Co-Artistic Director of Avant-Garde School of Dance in Denver, Colorado, Lance Hardin has danced professionally with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Chautauqua Ballet, and Milwaukee Ballet.  Students from local dance schools portray many of the characters in this local production of the Nutcracker. 

Since the Summer of 1999, Red River Dance Theater Company has promoted the tradition of quality ballet performance using local exceptional ballet students and outside professionals working in tandem. RRDTC continues to be the only nonprofit arts agency in the Central Louisiana area providing opportunities for extended training for the exceptional dancer.  Dance, stage and public performance opportunities are available using company members, guest artists and local dancers in public performances of ballet and dance arts in the Central Louisiana area. 

The Nutcracker Ballet will be staged on Saturday, November 27th at 7:00pm and on Sunday, November 28th at 2:00pm at Peabody Magnet High School Auditorium in Alexandria.  Located at Broadway and Jones Streets in Alexandria, this venue is easily accessible from I-49.  Tickets are available by visiting the RRDTC website at www.redriverdance.org, by calling Red River Dance Theatre at (318) 792-1699, or by mailing your payment to P. O. Box 486, Alexandria, LA 71309.  Tickets are $15.00 for adults, $12.00 for seniors, $8.00 for students, and $35.00 for the special family 4-pack which includes admission for 2 adults and 2 children.  Join us for a wonderful adventure at the 2010 Nutcracker and experience the magic!