One Resident Also Part Of Orchestra—

Over Two Dozen Newtown Dancers Have Landed Roles In Danbury Music Centre’s ‘Nutcracker’

DANBURY — A cast of 220 local dancers is busy preparing for another year’s production of the Nutcracker Ballet to be performed on Danbury High School’s stage the second weekend of December. Accompanied live by Danbury Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Tchaikovsky’s much loved music, it is the only production in the region to perform with live music.

Of this year’s cast, 28 child and two adult dancers are from Newtown. They dance throughout the show in the party, battle scene, and enchanted Land of Snow from Act I and the dance of the Angels, the Ginger Clowns, the Russian Trepak dance, and the waltz of the flowers in Act II. The Newtown dancers are Lauren Bauer, Haley Cobb, Hunter Cobb, Ashlyn DeLoughy, Dody Flynn, Herb Flynn, Kira Flynn, Logan Flynn, Dani Gaiser, Jennifer Hersh, Jacqueline Hoolehan, Catie Ingersoll, Victoria Madden, MacKenzie Maude, Kayla McClay, Bridget Moore, Megan Primavera, Katerina Ringes, Maria Ringes, Rebecca Romano, Mary Siroky, Brianna Straiton, Ashleigh Shaw, Nicolette Tartaglia, Alexandra Tobin, Natalia Nikitchyuk, Brianna Worthington, and Jerusha Wright.

Also, playing in Danbury Symphony Orchestra is Sandy Hook resident Donna Locke.

The magic of this holiday favorite will come alive once again under the acclaimed direction of Arthur Fredric, Artistic Director for the Danbury Music Centre since 1997 with a team of choreographers. Danbury Symphony Orchestra is under the direction of Ariel Rudiakov. Professional costuming and experienced stage technicians will transform the auditorium into a palace of sweets full of a young girl’s colorful dreams.

Jennifer Johnston, a lifelong resident of Newtown, has worked with the DMC Nutcracker as an assistant to the director and an associate choreographer for the past four years. She is the director of Newtown Centre of Classical Ballet and the Malenkee Ballet Repertoire Company. She also serves her hometown as chairman of the Newtown Cultural Arts Commission. Eighteen of the cast members who won roles in open audition for this year’s production are students of the Newtown Centre of Classical Ballet.

Sandy Hook resident Dody Flynn is also an associate choreographer for the DMC Nutcracker and graciously donates her studio space at Dance Dimensions in Brookfield every weekend to the music center for rehearsals.

For Dody, the Nutcracker is a family affair. Dody dances in this year’s production along with her husband Herb and children Kira and Logan. Also in this year’s cast are Dody’s nieces Ashlyn DeLoughy and Brianna Worthington. Dody’s sister, Amy DeLoughy also can be found staging dancers and helping in many ways around the busy rehearsals.

Danbury Music Centre’s Nutcracker Ballet began 41 years ago as a homegrown, hometown production. Over the years it has evolved into a stunning professional performance, while still retaining community energy and appeal.

Tickets are $15 or $20 and historically sell out quickly. All seating is reserved. The box office is at Danbury Music Centre, in the historic library building at 256 Main Street. The box office phone number is 748-1716.

Performances will be Friday, December 7, at 7:30 pm; Saturday, December 8, at 6 pm; and Sunday, December 9, at 3 pm, all at Danbury High School, on Clapboard Ridge Road (Route 39).

For additional information, call Danbury Music Centre at 748-1716 or send email to DMC1935@snet.net.