Get ready for Ballet Pensacola's
Nutcracker "Sweet"

Owada

In downtown Pensacola when the air is chilly, the lights are glistening and the holidays are just around the corner, the Pensacola Community can gather to experience the magic of the season in Ballet Pensacola's presentation of "Nutcracker 'Sweet.'"

For many years, Ballet Pensacola has presented "Pensacola's Nutcracker" to patrons and friends at the Saenger Theatre. This December, during much needed renovations to the Saenger, Ballet Pensacola will enchant audiences with six performances of the "Nutcracker 'Sweet'" at the Pensacola Cultural Center, located at 400 South Jefferson St. Performances will consist of spectacular dance excerpts from the Nutcracker as well as narration describing the full story. Nationally recognized guest artists, including Chinatsu Owada and Dana Lanz-Ross will join the talented Ballet Pensacola Company for all performances.

Owada is from Sapporo, Japan where she studied under Noriko Koizumi, and is a graduate of the Houston Ballet Academy, where she studied with Ben Stevenson. In Japan Chinatsu has danced the principal roles in "Cinderella," "La Sylphide" and "The Sleeping Beauty." With the Alabama Ballet, she has danced Cygnets in "Swan Lake," Flower Girl in "Don Quixote," Generosity and White Cat in "The Sleeping Beauty," as well as soloist roles in "Giselle," "Cinderella," "Balanchine's Nutcracker™" and "Paquita." Owada has also been seen in "Balanchine's Donizetti Variations" and "Serenade," "Terri Weksler's Quixotic," "Alan Hineline's Twist," and "Roger Van Fleteren's Be Major."

Lanz-Ross

Lanz-Ross, a Vancouver, Canada native, began his training in the Goh Ballet Academy. While a student Lanz-Ross toured Asia performing in "Le Corsaire," "Carnival in Venice" and "Diana and Acteon" among others. Lanz-Ross is a graduate of the Houston Ballet Academy and a former member of the Texas Ballet Theater, where he performed in "Ben Stevenson's Swan Lake," "Cleopatra," "Cinderella" and "Stanton Welch's A Time to Dance." Most recently Dana appeared with Montgomery Ballet as the Prince in "The Firebird."

Owada and Lanz-Ross will join over 90 cast members to make this holiday event something to remember for the Pensacola community. Not only will audiences marvel at the beautiful dance choreography of the Nutcracker ballet, but they will also be treated to delicious holiday sweets before and after each show.

Lauren Rushing performs in last year's production of 'The Nutcracker.'

Patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets early this year as Ballet Pensacola is expecting sold-out performances. Performances are: Thursday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 22 at 1 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 22 at 1 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 to $24 and are available by calling the Pensacola Cultural Center Box Office at 850-432-2042. For more information, visit www.balletpensacola.com or call 850-432-9546.
Local performers
included in
production
Gulf Breeze Cast members:
Emily Amberson, Hailey
Amberson, Maddie Amberson,
Ariella Atwell, Lauren Aylstock,
Hannah Ballew, April Barnhill,
Dasha Batova, Emily Bougher,
Skylar Boyles, Zoe Burkholder,
Anna Caldwell, Kaitlin Carver,

Performances of Ballet Pensacola's "Nutcracker 'Sweet'" are: Thursday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 22 at 1 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 22 at 1 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m.

Natasha Combs, Ana
DeCesare, Bianca Ephraim,
Kendall Finger, Victoria Forsley,
Carolyn Hagy, Lauren Hagy,
Lauren Heckathorn, Taylor
Hering, Kate Hitchcock,
Jacqueline Jerrems, Brooke
Jockers, Alexis Kellner, Lonni
Knorst, Jordan Law, Daniel
Lynch, Meagan Manson, Anna
Marks, Sarah Marks, Bella
Mayes, Eliana McCulley, Anna
Meyering, Anna Miley, Morgan,
Mitchem, Ellie Myers, Elyse
O'Connell, Alexa Phelps, Anna
Phelps, Sydney Phelps,
Caroline Pollitt, Elizabeth Anne
Pollitt, Alyssa Samuels, Sarah
Claire Sanborn, Susan Sanborn,
Katherine Shirley, Jillian Sise,
Kaley Sise, Devon Stachow,
Jennifer Stephens, Daisy
Talbert, Brandon Timmons,
Natalie Tonti, Ashley Tringas,
Kate Turner, Deniece Wade,
Diane Wade, Gabriella Wade-
Abston, Jessica Wade-Abston
and Mary Wolff.
Pensacola Beach Cast
Members:
Lia Lampone, Bailey Rinke
and Elle Wade.