Skip to content
  1. Home
  2. Local Arts

Burnaby dancers join Alberta Ballet Nutcracker

Local dance students are onstage with the professionals as the acclaimed production returns to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Dec. 28 to 30
Burnaby Now

It’s acclaimed as an exquisite production of a holiday classic, and it’s making a return to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

Ballet B.C. is presenting the return of Alberta Ballet in their production of The Nutcracker, running Dec. 28 to 30 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

The production, set in turn-of-the-20th-century Imperial Russia, features opulent sets and costumes, with more than 80 young dancers from around the Lower Mainland joining the professional ballet company onstage.

In their ranks are a number of young Burnaby dancers.

Performing as mice are Sarah Mizukami, who trains with Dance Collective, Madelyn Ng of HZ Ballet Classique, and Jocelyn Hoshizaki, who studies at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts.

Appearing as a soldier and a palace page is Jamison Rigazzi of Spotlight Dance Centre, alongside Emma Earle of HZ Ballet Classique. Also appearing as soldiers are Sofia Belac and Jessica Jensen, both of Spotlight Dance Academy, while Ashley Blair of ProArte appears as a palace page.

In the cast as party boys and girls are Neesa Miyahara of HZ Ballet Classique, Sydney Vidler of Spotlight Dance Academy and Jacob McLennan of Arts Umbrella.

The Burnaby-based HZ Ballet Classique also has a number of other dancers in the cast, including Alison Chung of Vancouver as a mouse, Vanessa Cannata of Vancouver as a soldier, and Kate Rose of New Westminster as a palace page.

 “Vancouver audiences were delighted with Alberta Ballet’s The Nutcracker when it was first presented here in 2011,” said Ballet B.C.’s artistic director, Emily Molnar, in a press release. “We’re pleased to bring back this magical version of the famous Christmas ballet with live music by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, extravagant sets and costumes, and the talented dancers of Alberta Ballet. The Nutcracker is unforgettable family entertainment that is sure to enrich your holiday season.”

The Nutcracker is onstage Thursday, Dec. 28 to Saturday, Dec. 30 at 7:30 p.m., with Friday and Saturday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets range in price from $35 to $95 and can be purchased through www.ticketmaster.ca or by calling 1-855-985-2787.