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Ohman Ballet

Erica Pereira and Daniel Ulbricht in NYDT 2024 Nutcracker. McaPhotos LLC

Local young dancers will share the stage with New York City Ballet stars Erica Pereira, a Northport native, and Daniel Ulbricht in New York Dance Theatre’s 42nd season of The Nutcracker at the John Cranford Adams Playhouse at Hofstra University in Hempstead on Saturday, Dec. 21 and Sunday, Dec. 22 with performances each day at noon and 5 p.m.

Alyssa Tavares as Fritz and Amelia Novellino as Clara NYDT Nutcracker 2024. Mca Photos LLC

The children, students at the Ohman School of Ballet in Commack, perform multiple roles in the iconic holiday story ballet including children in the Party Scene, Toy Soldiers and Mice in the Battle Scene, Snowflakes, Angels, and various confections in the Land of Sweets. 

Amari Bhalla, a seventh grader at Commack Middle School, and Amelia Novellino, a seventh grader at St. Patrick’s School in Smithtown, share the central role of “Clara” in two of the four shows. Anna Clemente and Alyssa Tavares, both sixth graders at Commack Middle School, share the pivotal role of Clara’s brother “Fritz,” who breaks Clara’s Nutcracker and sets the plot in motion, each performing in two of the four shows.

This year’s cast includes additional young dancers from the area as follows: Devyn Cleary, Claire DeVaney, Anna Gross, Isabel Gross, Sofia Gross, Marilyn Ihasz, Isabella Song, Nina Van Zandt, and Irene Vartholomeos of Commack; Priya Chan, Esther Cheong, Charlotte Cho, Vivian Cho, Isabella Fusaro, Mikaela Gluck, Aviva Hellman, Galina Hellman, Emily Kayen, Ariel Kerley, Hannah Litz, Elizabeth Pau, Adrianna Stucchio, and Oliva Telis of Dix Hills; Kaia Abdulkhalek and Valentina Linardic of East Northport; Angelina Zhang of East Setauket; Seraphina Moger of Greenlawn; Sarah Shao and Chuyu Li of Huntington; Leandra Guzman, Luke Sinisgalli, and Cassie Winter of Lake Grove; Mary Calefato of Nesconset; Penelope Moloney and Henley Nemeth of Northport; Laila DarConte, Giulia Katz, Samara Kolodny, Evelyn McCaughey, Juliette Struss, and Reagan Towler of Smithtown; and Emma Barry and Sonya Russo of St. James.

Anna Clemente as Fritz and Amari Bhalla as Clara. Mca Photos LLC

NYDT founder Frank Ohman (1939-2019), a former student and soloist under George Balanchine who lived in Centerport, set his staging after his mentor’s iconic Lincoln Center version, and the production includes the original Sugarplum Fairy Pas de Deux from George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker ® by permission of the George Balanchine Trust as well as costumes and props gifted by Mr. Balanchine. 

With the elegant Christmas Party Scene, the drama of the magical growing Christmas Tree, the Battle of the Toy Soldiers and Giant Mice, the live snowstorm, and the brilliant dancing in the Land of the Sweets, The Nutcracker appeals to all ages.  In all, a cast of 80 children, pre-professional and professional dancers will bring this classic story ballet to life on stage. 

A semi-immersive pre-show experience returns to the theater this year that invites audience members into the Silberhaus home before the curtain rises, with the sights, smells and sounds of the Christmas Eve party that is the setting for the ballet.    

Tickets range from $33 to $50, including discounts for seniors and children 12 and under. Add a photo with the cast for $5.50. To order, visit www.NYDanceTheatre.org or call 631-462-0964.

A scene from Ohman Ballet's The Nutcracker'

Young dancers from local towns will share the stage with New York City Ballet stars Indiana Woodward and Daniel Ulbricht in New York Dance Theatre’s 39th season of “The Nutcracker” at Hofstra University in Hempstead,  on Saturday, December 18 and Sunday, December 19 with performances at noon and 5 p.m. 

A scene from Ohman Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’

The girls, students at the Ohman School of Ballet in Commack, perform multiple roles in the iconic holiday story ballet including children in the Party Scene, Toy Soldiers and Mice in the Battle Scene, Snowflakes, Angels, and various confections in the Land of Sweets. Galina Hellman, an eighth grader at West Hollow Middle School, and Nina Van Zandt, a seventh grader at Commack Middle School, share the central role of “Clara,” each in two of the four performances at Hofstra University. West Hollow Middle School eighth grader Adrianna Stucchio and sixth grader Aviva Hellman share the pivotal role of Clara’s brother “Fritz,” who breaks Clara’s Nutcracker and sets the plot in motion, each in two of the four performances.

This year’s cast includes young dancers from all over the area as follows: Chloe Cantillo, Anna Clemente, Elysena DeStefano, Claire DeVaney, Brynn Farino, Anna Gross, Isabel Gross, Sofia Gross, Karen Li, Ava Napolitano, Victoria Rodgers, Alyssa Tavares, and Nina Van Zandt of Commack; Elodie Hennessy of Centerport; Roxanne Benoit, Chloe Cheong, Esther Cheong, Mikaela Gluck, Emma Grabelsky, Aviva Hellman, Galina Hellman, Charlotte Neville, Elizabeth Pau, Carina San José, Gita Seto, Adrianna Stucchio, and Anna Tang of Dix Hills; Addison Candelaria of East Northport; Charlotte Stratton of Huntington; Isabella Lenarduzzi and Magdalen Schaefer of Kings Park; Olivia Deng and Emily Yong of Melville; Eileen Huntsman, Erin McKenna, and Delaney Mulholland of Northport; Sophia Ferro of Setauket; Katie Fox of Shoreham; Laila DarConte, Amelia Grace Novellino, Chloe Foster, Sophie Niemann, and Samara Kolodny of Smithtown; Sonya Russo of St. James; and Olivia Wu of Stony Brook.

NYDT’s production is the largest Nutcracker on Long Island and the only one performed in the tradition of New York City Ballet’s Lincoln Center version. Through the years, founder and longtime Centerport resident Frank Ohman created original dances and scenes for the ballet that set his production apart from others on Long Island.  As a former student and soloist under George Balanchine Ohman was one of a select few authorized to use the original pas de deux choreography of his mentor, which continues to distinguish this production.

Special guest artists, New York City Ballet principal dancers Indiana Woodward and Daniel Ulbricht, will perform as the Sugarplum Fairy and her Cavalier. Mr. Ulbricht serves as an artistic advisor for the Ohman School of Ballet, a division of New York Dance Theatre, and has been a recurring master class instructor at the school including on Zoom throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

With the elegant Christmas Party Scene, the drama of the magical growing Christmas Tree, the Battle of the Toy Soldiers and Giant Mice, the live Snow Storm, and the brilliant dancing in the Land of the Sweets, “The Nutcracker” appeals to all ages.  In all, a cast of 80 children, pre-professional and professional dancers will bring this classic story ballet to life on the stage of the John Cranford Adams Playhouse. The children’s roles are performed by students of the Frank Ohman School of Ballet in Commack.

Tickets for this full production ballet are $42.00 and $32.00 (seniors and children 12 and under) plus $3 fee, available at www.ohmanballet.org  or 631.462.0964. Details about Covid-19 protocols for audience members are outlined on the website and are subject to change according to local government guidelines.