Saturday, December 1 at 1:00pm and 7:30pm
Sunday, December 2 at 2:00pm
Please join us for a Q&A with the cast immediately following the Saturday and Sunday matinees!
Tickets $20-$35 (fees not included) Discounts for Students, Seniors, Military, Groups and St. Kate’s Alumni
2004 Randolph Ave | St Paul, MN 55105 | Box office 651-690-6700
GUEST ARTISTS
Sugar Plum Fairy
Alison Stroming is a professional dancer, model, and entrepreneur. Born in Recife, Brazil and raised in the heart of New York City, she started her formal ballet training at nine years old at the School of American Ballet. After three years at SAB, Alison accepted a full tuition scholarship to the JKO School at American Ballet Theatre where she continued her studies. She spent four years in the professional division followed by a year as a company member of ABT’s Junior Company, ABT II (now ABT Studio Company). In 2010, Alison won the title of “Miss New York’s Outstanding Teen” and represented the state of New York at Miss America’s Outstanding Teen where she won Overall Talent.
Alison’s professional ballet career began with the Alberta Ballet in Canada where she toured across the country and also performed as a soloist with recording artist Sarah McLachlan in her Hope Rising! Concert. She then spent one season with Ballet San Jose followed by four seasons with the Dance Theatre of Harlem. As a professional ballerina, she has performed across the country and overseas in Spain, Lithuania, Guatemala, Tel Aviv, Poland, Budapest, and Italy. Alison also had the opportunity to perform with legend, Aretha Franklin, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC for the Washington Performing Arts Foundation.
Alison starred in her first national Ad Campaign “Strength In Beauty, Beauty in Strength” with Tumi Luggage in 2011 and since then has been featured in national campaigns for Under Armour, Free People, Aeropostale, Brandy Melville, Adidas, American Eagle, which was featured on Times Square billboards, and most recently, McDonald’s. She has been featured in several publications and media including Marie Claire, BET, Popsugar, Interview, Nylon Magazine, and ELLE Magazine. Earlier this summer, Alison launched her very first dance wear line and company, AS Dancewear, with focus on female empowerment. In addition to ballet, Alison studies all styles of dance, acting, voice, and serves as a mentor to young dancers across the country.
Uncle D
Regional Emmy Award winning actor, vocalist, arts educator and community organizer; T. Mychael Rambo has made an indelible mark here in the Twin Cities performing principal roles at such theaters as: Penumbra, the Guthrie, Ordway Theatre, Illusion Theatre, Mixed Blood, Park Square Theatre, 10,000 Things, Theater Latte Da, Children’s Theatre and Minnesota Opera to name but a few. Nationally and internationally his stage credits include Carnegie Hall and performances abroad in Africa, Europe and South America. He has appeared in local and national television commercials, feature films, HBO mini-series, and other television programming. T. Mychael is an accomplished residency artist and an affiliate professor in the College of Liberal Arts, Theatre Arts and Dance at the University of Minnesota. As a recording artist, T. Mychael has released two popular CD’s: “Simply” – a collection of jazz standards; and “The Gift; A Christmas With Love” – a selection of original and holiday classics. T. Mychael had the great honor of singing the National Anthem for both President Barak Obama and former President Jimmy Carter. Mr. Rambo is also the proud recipient of the 2010 Sally Award in Arts Educator – presented by the Ordway Theatre and the 2010 Minnesota Black Music Award. His other honors and awards include Young Audience Artist of the Year, McKnight Theatre Artist Fellowship, Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Fellowship, Bush Finalist and both the University of Minnesota Century Council Community Award and Outstanding Community Service Award among others.
Cavalier
Francisco Preciado started his training at Los Angeles Ballet Academy under the instruction of Andrea Paris. In high school he was awarded a scholarship to The HARID Conservatory. He graduated in 2008 and was recipient of the Rudolf Nureyev Dance Fellowship. He completed summer intensives at The School of American Ballet, The Juilliard School and San Francisco Ballet School. In 2009 he joined Ballet San Jose where he danced for 7 seasons and performed works by Jorma Elo, Ohad Naharin, Stanton Welch, Dwight Rhoden, Jessica Lang and Roland Petit. He joined Ballet Memphis in 2017 where he performed works by Trey McIntyre, George Balanchine and Reggie Wilson. Francisco most recently performed with Barak Ballet at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica and The Joyce in NYC.
STORY
After the annual holiday party Maria and her brother Frank settle in for the night with a bedtime story from Uncle Dross. As Maria’s imagination takes over, we are swept along on her journey to the land of dancing snow and the kingdom where she meets candies and goodies that have come alive, waltzing flowers and the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier.
A Nutcracker Story is inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic tale and springs from the creative team led by Lirena Branitski with Christina Onusko and Laura C.C. Greenwell. For Twin City patrons who remember Ballet Art’s Minnesota City Children’s Nutcracker Project, you will once again see the brilliant choreography of Lirena Branitski in the Snows, Flowers, Spanish and Russian dances along with choreography for Polichinelles, Flurries, and Tea dance by Christina Onusko and new this year, the Coffee dance by Malika Benechour. Lighting design by Kevin Jones and sets by Anne Henley transform the stage and bring the magic.
A Nutcracker Story is designed for all ages; the 85-minute length plus intermission is a perfect way to introduce young children to the power and beauty of classical dance told with innocence and wonder to one of the most layered and lush musical scores ever written, Tchaikovsky’s enthralling and familiar score for The Nutcracker.
Gift Boutique:
• SPB Wear including track jackets, t-shirts and tote bags
• Gift certificates
Take Your Photo with characters from A Nutcracker Story:
Use your camera or phone to snap photos with the characters in front of our decorated lobby tree following each show. Send us your photos to post on our Facebook page!
Join us for FREE Sneak Peeks
Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at 10:00am and 11:00am
Toddler Tuesday at the Mall of America
Join us in the magically decorated Sears rotunda at MOA. Enjoy excerpts from A Nutcracker Story and meet the Sugar Plum Fairy who will help you with a holiday craft to take home!
Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at Noon
Ballet Tuesday at Landmark Center
Enjoy excerpts from A Nutcracker Story and participate with the costumed dancers!
Saturday, November 17, 2018 11:00am to 3:00pm (Drop-in)
Studios of St. Paul Ballet, 655 Fairview Ave. N., St.Paul
Get a sneak peek into the making of A Nutcracker Story during our Full Cast Rehearsal. Come enjoy the buzz of rehearsal. See our cast from youngest to oldest refine every minute of choreography and take final fittings in magnificent, colorful costumes.
You can expect the best from St. Paul Ballet’s in this fifth holiday season!
