Clara admires her Christmas gift, "The Nutcracker."
The Bristol Ballet, now in its 76th season, stages “The Nutcracker” in historic downtown Bristol and Richlands, Virginia, this December. Bristol Ballet’s interpretation of this timeless classic takes place at 7 p.m. Dec.7, in the Charles R. King Community Center at Southwest Virginia Community College and returns to the Paramount Bristol stage for three performances. The performances are Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 14 at 12 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
In partnership with the Sullivan County Animal Shelter, Saturday’s noon performance is affectionately referred to as “The Pupcracker,” as it will include a pet adoption event in the lobby of the Paramount. A few furry friends will also take part in the party scene for Paramount performances. In addition, Tiny Miracle Kitten Rescue will be at the Saturday evening performance to help adopt kittens.
This year, Bristol Ballet is working with Citizens for the Arts, to continue their performance at The Southwest Virginia Community College. “Working with Ginger Branton has been a delight, and we are proud to continue bringing Nutcracker into rural Southwest Virginia for our third year,” says Amanda Hairston, Artistic and development director of Bristol Ballet. Hairston also produces and directs “The Nutcracker” at Bristol Ballet.
The Bristol Ballet interpretation of the Tchaikovsky classic Christmas story tips a hat to the region’s Appalachian music history and the 1927 Bristol Sessions with Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters standing in for Mother Ginger and the Polichinelles. Bristol Ballet is the only studio in the community that performs the full production of “The Nutcracker” and has done so for over 50 years.
Experience the wonder of Clara’s adventure as she helps break the spell of the evil Rat Queen and goes on a journey through the land of Snow and onward to the Land of Sweets. Principal dancers Erin Ginn and Jace Coronado reprise their roles as the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier.
Ginn, a Kingsport, Tennessee, native who resides in New York City, teaches classical ballet and is a certified Pilates Instructor. She began her ballet training at a young age under Karen Gibbons-Brown and attended the Walnut Hill School of Performing Arts, receiving honors for outstanding achievement in ballet. She began her professional career as an apprentice with the Cincinnati Ballet and graduated with high distinction from Indiana University, earning a Bachelor of Science in ballet performance. She has danced nationally and internationally with several ballet companies across the country. This is her 13th year as Sugar Plum.
Coronado also resides in New York and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance and vocal performance from West Texas A&M and studied at the School of American Ballet. He has appeared in several productions on Broadway including “West Side Story,” “Disney’s Aladdin,” “Guys and Dolls” and “An American in Paris.” He also works as a master teacher and choreographer for various schools and companies in the New England area.
New to the stage is guest dancer Jeremy Gruner, who will be playing the role of Snow Cavalier at the Paramount Bristol performances. Gruner is a multidisciplinary artist based in New York. He received a Master of Music degree from Butler University, while also dancing full time in Butler’s prestigious Ballet Performance program. He danced with State Street Ballet in Santa Barbara, California, before moving to New York as a freelance artist, and he has toured internationally with Kyiv Classical Ballet.
Senior Company member, Kielyn Minton, is Snow Queen this year alongside guest dancers, Zaiah Gray (SVCC performance) and Jeremy Gruner (Paramount Bristol performances) as Snow Cavalier. Minton is a senior at Holston High School and is the recipient of the Teresangela Schiano Memorial Scholarship.
The Teresangela Schiano Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to dancers at the intermediate/advanced level of ballet who are also part of Bristol Ballet’s performing company. The chosen dancer must be active in performing and exhibit skill and dedication to excellence. He or she must possess a desire to progress and grow within the art form; aspirations to dance professionally are not a requirement. The scholarship will provide for all fees for the 2024-2025 season.
Returning to the stage is Zaiah Gray, who danced with Bristol Ballet for many years and danced in this year’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Gray is also an actor at Theatre Bristol and dances with other organizations in the area. He will be playing the pivotal role of the Nutcracker as well as Snow King at the SVCC show Dec. 7. David Godsey is returning to the stage again this year as Herr Drosselmeyer. Godsey also has performed in other shows such as “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and their 75th Anniversary production in “Mountain Ballad.”
For tickets and more information about Bristol Ballet visit BristolBallet.org as well as www.paramountbristol.org for tickets to Paramount Bristol. For information about the performance with CART at the Southwest Virginia Community College, reach out to Ginger Branton by email joincarttoday@gmail.com or call/text (276) 963-3385.
