'The Nutcracker'

MOSES LAKE — Central Washington residents and visitors who'd like to give the holiday season an exciting, colorful, musical start should consider “The Nutcracker” ballet performed by the Ballet Academy of Moses Lake.

“The Nutcracker” is an annual production of the Academy. It usually sells out, and audiences walk away raving about the performers and performances.

This is the ninth year the Academy has presented “The Nutcracker.” The cast ranges in age from 3 to 19, and most of the cast members have been in at least one prior presentation.

“The kids are ecstatic about every time,” Academy and “Nutcracker” director Lacey Stowers said. “On the years we don't do it, they are really bummed.”

The last two performances of the year are at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9 and Saturday, Dec. 10.

All of the performances will take place at the Moses Lake High School Theater.

“The Nutcracker” ballet, composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, premiered in 1892. But it wasn't until the 1960s that it took off as a Christmas tradition.

The ballet is based on the story “The Nutcracker and the King of Mice,” written by E.T.A. Hoffman. It's the story of a young German girl who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and a fierce battle against a Mouse King with seven heads.

For the Academy's productions, the music is all recorded, but the cast is all local. The main casting leads have been dancing ballet for many years. Most of them have danced since they were only 4 years old.

“We have a dual cast so that everyone has the opportunity to play multiple roles,” Stowers said. “All of our dancers have been working very hard this year to make ‘The Nutcracker' great.”

“The Nutcracker” is a classic that everyone loves to watch – and participate in. Stowers likes to throw in a new surprise for the audience each year.

“This show will be amazing,” she said.

Tickets are required, and they are available online only at www.tututix.com/BalletAcademyML.

If the shows don't sell out online, there will be tickets available at the door. However, “Nutcracker” shows do sell out. Only children ages 3 and under who sit on a paying adult's lap do not require a ticket.

Stowers promises a show worthy of the ticket price and maybe more. She is accomplished in ballet, having studied at great schools and with great teachers. Her students are dedicated and determined.

Stowers started dancing at the age of 6. She trained at the Broadway School of the Arts with JoAnn Rashford. There she studied classical ballet and tap for 10 years before she started training with Robin Wenrich at the Ballet Academy of Moses Lake.

Stowers danced with The Inland Pacific Ballet, performing in Balanchine's “Serenade.” She has also performed lead roles such as Swanhilda and Tatiana.

Stowers has attended The Joffrey Summer Workshop, Summer Dance Lab and many other workshops. She has studied with Maria Vegh and taken classes from Finis Jung, Paul Sutherland, Brunilda Ruiz, Patricia Barker, Patricia Neary and others.

Stowers took over The Ballet Academy of Moses Lake in 2007.

This year's cast of “The Nutcracker” is:

Mr. and Mrs. Stalbaum – Brianna Hansen and Jacob Law, Hanna Nelson and Conrad Johnson

Drosselmeyer – Chris Voigt

Fritz – Reegan Radach and Esther Roeber

Clara – Esther Roeber and Reegan Radach

Ballerina Doll – Hanna Nelson and Brianna Hansen

Columbine Doll – Ariana Ford-Daily and Madeline Voigt

Harlequin Doll – Thalia Garza and Abigail Johnson

Rat King – Isabelle Cleverly

Nutcracker Prince – Jackson Aronsohn

Snow Queen – Brianna Hansen and Elise Ramsden

Angels- Trinity Schindler, Ashlyn Juarez, Adyline Poplawski and Taylor Mansford

Gumdrop Princess – Abigail Johnson and Thalia Garza

Sugar Plum – Jocelyn Beich and Brianna Hansen

Spanish – Jenna Laney and Elise Ramsden

Chinese – Ariana Ford-Daily, Brianna Hansen, Hanna Nelson, Madeline Voigt, Jenna Laney, Alyssa Kershner

Russian – Trinity Schindler, Arianna Ford-Daily, Adyline Poplawski, Taylor Mansford

Marzipan – Lauren Beich and Alyssa Kershner

Mother Ginger – Thalia Garza and Abigail Johnson

Arabian – Madeline Voigt and Jocelyn Beich

Rose – Lauren Beich and Hanna Nelson.

Editor's note: This story originally appeared in the Nov. 19-26 edition of This Week Columbia Basin.