From left to right: Nutcracker (Sadie Asbury), Snowflake (Abigail Ratliff), Clara (Laklynn Burden)
Students and staff of Grace Studio of Motion and Dance, Abingdon, Virginia, perform “An Appalachian Christmas - A Nutcracker Story” Dec. 8 at 2:30 p.m. at Abingdon High School.
Grace Studio’s 14th annual Christmas performance is a new take on an old classic.
This Appalachian themed nutcracker tale includes many well-known favorites as well as some new characters.
The story starts at a Christmas party in a family cabin where Clara, danced by GSMD senior Laklynn Burden, welcomes party guests. During the party Clara’s magical aunt arrives with gifts including dancing rag dolls, and of course a nutcracker. Once the party ends and the nutcracker comes to life, Clara goes on a magical journey through the Appalachian Mountains where she will encounter Mother Nature and her small woodland animals, in lieu of Mother Ginger and the Polichinelles.
The Nutcracker, danced by Sadie Asbury, leads Clara along the Crooked Road through coal country, Whitetop, Land of Sweets, The Blue Ridge Mountains and Wildflower Fields. The performance concludes with woodland fairies lulling Clara to sleep where she wakes up back in her family cabin with her nutcracker doll wondering if it was all a dream.
This performance is the brainchild of GSMD’s owner and director, April Grace.
“I’ve been wanting to do a traditional Nutcracker show that will include all of our dance styles that we offer with a unique twist.”
Dance styles included in the show are ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical and musical theater.
Grace says, “We have so many beautiful places and traditions in our region, we wanted to showcase those in this show. It is meant to leave you feeling joyful and proud of where you’re from.”
Hopefully you will leave with some Christmas spirit as well. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $5 each.
For more information, visit www.gracemotionanddance.com.
