The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center
If you haven’t yet seen the New York City Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker” you may want to take some time over the holiday to do so. This year’s production at Lincoln Center is wowing audiences. It stars 12 children from Brooklyn Heights, Gravesend, Bay Ridge, Clinton Hill, Kensington and Williamsburg.
Wrapping up on December 31st, the show has included two groups of 50 children as part of its ensemble of 150 dancers and musicians from the New York City Ballet. The dance instructor for the children, Garielle Whittle, handpicked each of the children for their ballet roles. As an instructor at the School of American Ballet at Lincoln Center for 28 years, Whittle explained that the children rehearsed three hours a day for six weeks.
As Whittle said,
“The roles are not easy. It takes a long time to teach but it’s worth it. They really learned how to do it.”
As Tierney Solmo from Brooklyn Heights said, “It’s a really happy feeling. I feel like I’ve accomplished my goal and people enjoyed what I did.”
Elizabeth Haarsgaard, also from Brooklyn Heights, said,
“It’s a very great opportunity. Most people don’t get to do it and it’s very exciting.”
