By Pat Lawrence
The Nutcracker. Charleston Ballet. |
The Charleston Ballet will perform the holiday classic, The Nutcracker,
as their Clay Center debut on December 19th and 20th. Tickets
range from $10-$45. The Charleston Ballet has presented traditional
ballet and over 150 original works for West Virginia audiences since
its 1956 inception. In 1972, the company was bestowed the title, Official
West Virginia State Ballet, and was the first ballet company to initiate
the state theater at the West Virginia Cultural Center.
Kim Pauley, the manager, artistic director and, often choreographer,
for the ballet also remains a principal dancer for the group. Kim
has studied in NewYork, at the Joffrey Ballet School and with the
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and performed with dancers of the Cleveland
Ballet, the Boston Ballet and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.
In addition to the young dancers and local talent that comprise the
Charleston ballet, an outstanding slate of guest dancers, guest choreographers
and other West Virginia dance companies participate in its programs.
Dancers in the program are generally drawn from the American Academy
Ballet, the Charleston Ballet's Official School. Ranging in ages
from 16-18, the young dancers, commit to about twenty hours each week
of dance class and rehearsals, along with their regular schooling. Ten
apprentice dancers are often included in the main programs as well.
Dancers are eligible to become apprentices at age 12. Auditions
are conducted each spring for promising talent. Kim says, “By
twelve, most dancers have had several years of training and developed
ambitions of dancing professionally. Apprentices do not have
quite the time commitment as our regular dancers, but they participate
as much as possible in the programs and gain tremendous experience
working with the other girls and with our guest artists.”
The Nutcracker will feature guest artists for the male roles. One
guest artist has returned annually since 1991 to perform with the
group, and continues the tradition though he now resides in Haiti.
With a repertory that includes traditional classical favorites, innovative
contemporary works and interpretive folk styles, the Charleston Ballet
continues to give West Virginia a unique cultural legacy and an abundance
of visual and musical pleasure. .
For more information visit www.thecharlestonballet.com
or contact Kim Pauley, 304-342-6541.
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