The Cape Cod holiday classic, The Sea Captain's Nutcracker, makes its return to the stage with three performances over Thanksgiving weekend! Directed by Laura Sciortino,  Artistic Director of Falmouth’s Turning Pointe Dance Studio, the shows are held at the Tilden Arts Center at the Cape Cod Community College on Saturday, November 24 at 2pm and 6pm and Sunday, November 25 at 2pm.  
 
This lovely production is an excellent way to kick off your holiday season and is perfect for all ages.  The Sea Captain’s Nutcracker, set to the original Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker score, opens in a Chatham Sea Captain’s home in the mid-1800’s.  Local authors Donna Smith & Anne LeClaire’s script transports the audience on an enchanting journey through local history and folklore invoking elements of the natural environs of Cape Cod. The heroic battle scene takes place aboard a sailing ship as it is attacked by mooncussers off the coast of Eastham; a swift and violent storm off Monomoy Point then threatens the voyage.  The salty old Sea Captain, who replaces the traditional Drosselmeyer character, returns home to Chatham bearing exotic gifts from his voyages for Clara.  Audiences will be charmed by the Waltz of the Sea Grass and will be thrilled by the Dance of the Icy Winds.
 
You need not go to Boston or New York City to see a high quality Nutcracker!  The Sea Captain’s Nutcracker, not only includes 125 local dance students and actors but features professional guest dancers from Omaha and Chicago. Kristen Evans and Alex Luntz from the Festival Ballet Providence star as the Beach Castle Princess and her Cavalier. The enchanting choreography is a collaboration by professional and world renowned dancers including Laura Sciortino, Catherine Batcheller and Joseph Cipolla. This year’s production features exciting additional choreography by Yves de Bouteiller, recently relocated from Paris and now on faculty at Turning Pointe Dance Studio. Mr.de Bouteiller along with Falmouth local, Brett Baird, play the role of the salty old Sea Captain.  
 
The Sea Captain's original set and costume designs are by London stage designer Jean Marc Puissant but watch for elegant and imaginative new costumes and sets added this year.  A special newcomer to the cast is Sandwich school teacher Cathy Lemay who opens the production as the adult Clara reminiscing to John Lennon's So This is Christmas.  Tickets sell quickly so reserve your seats today!
 
For tickets to this production visit the studio's website at www.turningpointedancestudio.org or call (508) 444-0278.
Adults: $26; children and seniors: $16. Group discounts are available.
 
 
Guest Performer Bios:
 
Kristen Evans, Beach Castle Princess
Born in Providence, Ms. Evans began training in the Festival Ballet Providence School at age 11. She performed as a member of FBP’s Junior Company for 5 years before joining the main company as a trainee in 2010. Ms. Evans has attended summer intensives with Bolshoi Ballet Academy, The Nutmeg Conservatory, and was a member of the Jacob’s Pillow Summer Dance Festival in 2009. Ms. Evans was a two-time finalist in the Youth America Grand Prix in New York City, where she was awarded several scholarships as well as a traineeship with Ballet West in Utah. Previous roles with FBP include Wendy in Jorden Morris’ Peter Pan, the title role in Winthrop Corey’s Cinderella, Pas de Trois, Big Swans, and Cygnets in Swan Lake, Princess Tsarevna in Mihailo Djuric’s The Firebird, the roles of Sugarplum Fairy, Dew Drop Fairy, Clara, Spanish, and Marzipan in The Nutcracker, and the principal in Etudes, as well as principal roles in George Balanchine’s Apollo, Allegro Brillante, Agon, Rubies, and Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, in addition to the principal role in Christopher Wheeldon’s The American. Kirsten has also been featured in contemporary works by Viktor Plotnikov, Dominic Walsh, Ilya Kozadayev, Joseph Morrissey, and others. Kirsten works as the PR and Communications Assistant for FBP and is also pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts/Journalism at Providence College. This is Kirsten’s ninth season with the company.
 
 
Alex Lantz,  Cavalier
 
Alex Lantz began his dance training at age seven at the Rockford Dance Company in his home town of Rockford, Illinois. In 2006, he was accepted into the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Professional Division. Mr. Lantz joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet company as an apprentice in 2010. He performed with the company in The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Moulin Rouge – The Ballet, Dracula, Wonderland, The Ecstasy of Rita Joe, Svengali and Giselle. Mr. Lantz also joined the company in 2010 on a three-city tour of Israel, part of the RWB’s 70th Anniversary tour. Lantz came to Festival Ballet Providence in 2012. He has performed the roles of Spanish, Snow King and Sugarplum Cavalier in The Nutcracker, has been featured in Dominic Walsh’s Afternoon of the Faun, Ilya Kozadayev’s Moonlight Pas De Deux, and has also performed leading roles in Viktor Plotnikov’s Orchis and Coma as well as principal roles in George Balanchine’s Agon and Tchaikovky Pas de Deux. Mr. Lantz also has performed a number of character roles including Von Rothbart in Swan Lake, The Witch in Hansel & Gretel, Kastchai in The Firebird, Smee in Jordan Morris’ Peter Pan and Herr Drosselmeyer in The Nutcracker. This is his sixth year with Festival Ballet Providence.

What Dance Can Do for Your Child & Summer Dance Classes
By: Laura

​I'm sure, at some point, you've all read or conversed about the benefits of dance lessons and the many life lessons gained by having your child participate in dance.  For example you learn how to push yourself beyond your limits and reach your personal best, how to handle disappointment, learn time management skills, instill discipline, team work, humility, tenacity, and passion. I am living proof of how truly amazing life can be when you are passionate about something.
 
But where is the proof in our children? Having had 5 senior dancers graduate this year from high school and Turning Pointe Dance Studio, I have the proof and it was displayed by these 5 remarkable teenagers! These young women had been dancing with me since they were small. One of these young ladies used to cry every time her Mom dropped her off at the studio. It was clear that she loved to dance so her family kept at it, persevered and conquered and now she is performing in front of thousands of people with poise and confidence. These 5 young women all graduated with high honors (3 of which were in the top 20 students at Falmouth High School) and have managed to maintain rigorous dance schedules. They are loyal, team players even at times of stress and frustration. They are role models and I am confident that they will do amazing things in our community and world. They were accepted to top Universities and are majoring and minoring in subjects like forensic science, dance, art, architecture, neuroscience, physical therapy, and biochemistry.

​​Here is more of why...
 
Dance teaches the values and skills of creativity, problem solving, and risk taking.
 
Dance lessons are a great place for kids to make new friends. A dance studio provides a safe dance family and community during a time when life can be unpredictable and confusing, especially during adolescence.
 
Dance education helps students develop physical fitness, appreciation of their body, mindfulness of health and effective stress management skills. In today’s technology-driven world, it is becoming increasingly more important for children to adopt a physically active lifestyle early on.
 
Dance gives non-verbal children and outlet to express their emotions. Dance gives children with sensory related issues an opportunity to move freely through space, to work on gross and fine motor skills, balance, and spatial awareness. Many parents find that dance lessons help improve behavioral issues, such as hyperactivity.
 
Studies have shown that children who participate in dance lessons tend to perform better in the classroom. Dance requires discipline and focus, which translates to an improved academic performance. Dance lessons help reinforce educational basics, like counting. Children also learn to differentiate right from left and fast from slow. 
So for all the parents out there with little ones that are shy or you can't get them unattached to your leg (I am one of those parents)... keep at it. It's all worth it and above is the proof!

Laura Sciortino is mother of 6 year old Henry and 4 year old Cordelia, a retired professional ballerina, and owner and dance teacher at Turning Pointe Dance Studio in Falmouth.
 
www.turningpointedancestudio.org
 
Summer classes begin June 26 and there are still spots in most classes! 
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