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Community Corner

Ellington resident stars in Connecticut Concert Ballet Presents the NUTCRACKER

Connecticut Concert Ballet’s Nutcracker has a resident of Ellington dancing a role central to this holiday classic, Kalagena Sullivan Torres will be performing as Fritz. Eight more residents are also in the show, Elizabeth Dzen, Lauren Galeota, Layliana Torres, Eileen Liu, Matthew Ryan, Melissa Ryan, Michelle Ryan and Tess Ryan.

Connecticut Concert Ballet is a 501(c)(3) classical ballet school and performing arts organization with studios in Manchester and in Windsor at the Loomis Chaffee School. CCB is honored to announce it had been named “Best Dance Lessons” in Hartford Magazine’s 2013 “Best of Hartford” readers’ poll. The school has over 300 students from more than 40 towns in the Greater Hartford Area and beyond, towns range from Granby to Colchester and Stafford Springs to Southington; ages of students range from 3 to Adult.

Kalagena is a high honor 6th grade student at Windermere Intermediate School and she will be sharing the role of Fritz in half of the shows. Fritz is the trouble-making brother of Clara, who gets an enchanted Nutcracker as a gift at Christmastime. Some years, when there are not enough boys to fill the cast, girls need to step into the roles, and this year Kalagena will be that most important “boy” in the story. This is Kalagena’s seventh Nutcracker.

Kalagena is a level 3 dancer in the AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE® National Training Curriculum employed at CCB. At this level of proficiency, dancers spend 6 1/2 hours a week in classes that include ballet technique and pre-pointe. In addition, these students take at least one other form of dance. Rehearsals for the Nutcracker are held outside of class time, the dancers rehearse for their leads and supporting roles an additional three or more hours a week, Kalagena's role requires much more. Kalagena has also been selected as a trainee for CCB's pre-professional program and attends an additional 90 minute a week class for this specialized training.

The NUTCRACKER will highlight 250 of Connecticut Concert Ballet's talented local students. This exuberant production will light up the stage of the Bailey Auditorium, a state of the art venue that is one of the largest in Connecticut. The technical aspects of the production including costumes, lighting and stage crew are provided by professionals and CCB’s highly capable students from over 30 towns are an integral part of the production. Each year, Connecticut Concert Ballet’s Nutcracker is one of the largest community events in the greater Hartford area.

Performances will be held at the Bailey Auditorium, Manchester High School, 134 Middle Turnpike East, on Saturdays, December 14 and 21 (2 p.m. and 7 p.m.) and Sundays, December 15 and 22 (2 p.m.)

Ticket Information: Preferred Front & Center Seats $35; General Admission $25, Child/Student/Seniors $15.  Tickets are available online at www.connecticutnutcracker.com, by phone (860) 418-7294, at Dance Village, 171 Spencer St, Manchester, and Hairdresser on Fire, 176 Broad St, Windsor.

Connecticut Concert Ballet is a semi-professional 501(c)(3) classical ballet school and performing arts organization with studios in Manchester and in Windsor at the Loomis Chaffee School; for info please visit www.ctconcertballet.org call 860-643-4796 or visit us at www.facebook.com/connecticutconcertballet.

For more information on the Nutcracker please visit www.connecticutnutcracker.com or call 860-418-7294.

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