NEWS RELEASE
LIVE AT THE HIPPO POOL EVENTS
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After a two-year pandemic hiatus, Live at the Hippo Pool Events is delighted to renew the Nutcracker tradition in Guelph. Ballet Jorgen returns to River Run Centre on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m. with performances of The Nutcracker - a Canadian Tradition.
Ballet Jorgen’s quintessentially Canadian Nutcracker premiered in 2008 to rave reviews and continues to delight audiences year after year.
Choreographed by Bengt Jorgen to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s much-loved score, this delightful re-working of the timeless classic is born from a collaboration with the world-renowned McMichael Canadian Art Collection.
The Nutcracker features as backdrops, three works by Canada’s 20th Century landscape artists- Franklin Carmichael’s Church and Houses at Bisset (1931), Tom Thomson’s Snow in the Woods (1916) and L.L. FitzGerald’s Trees and Wildflowers (1922). Set in the early 1900s, this homegrown Nutcracker brings to life the magical tale of a little girl’s Christmas dream and her grand journey through our northern landscapes filled with snowflakes, trilliums and creatures of the woods.
“The charming production…features beautifully rendered backdrop reproductions of iconic works by Carmichael, Thomson and FitzGerald and is ideally suited for young audiences. With its Edwardian setting in Algonquin and all its animal characters, from beavers and bullfrogs to skunks and squirrels, Jorgen’s new …. Nutcracker is adorable even before it starts wagging its tails.” (Michael Crabb, National Post)
In early September, young dancers from Guelph and surrounding communities auditioned for a variety of roles in this year’s Guelph performances. At those auditions, 19 local dancers were selected, representing 11 different dance schools in Guelph, Fergus, Acton, Kitchener and Waterloo.
Ballet Jorgen’s Nutcracker Youth Program provides young dancers with the opportunity to perform with a professional dance company and, for those considering a career in dance, a valuable opportunity to experience the inner life and workings of a ballet company.
Founded in 1987, Ballet Jorgen is one of Canada’s largest dance companies and this country’s leading touring company. And it is the only professional Canadian ballet company with a repertoire consisting exclusively of original works.
Visit the company at their website www.balletjorgen.ca.
For the River Run performances, all seats are reserved. Adult tickets are $53/$48, senior tickets $49/$44 and student tickets $36/$31. Premier seating price is $73. Prices include HST; additional service charges may apply. Tickets are now on sale at River Run Centre Box Office at 519-763-3000 or 1-877-520-2408 or www.riverrun.ca.
The Guelph Mercury Tribune generously makes possible these performances and the involvement of local dance students.
In the spirit of seasonal giving, the community is invited to Share The Magic and support the work of Family and Children’s Services of Guelph and Wellington County.
By pledging a ticket at the discounted price of $20, patrons can give a seat to a child or family who might otherwise not be able to share the Nutcracker magic. The box office is able to assist those wishing to give to Share The Magic.
