Paris Ballet and Dance to Stage Holiday Production

The company will perform The Nutcracker at the Eissey Campus Theatre in Palm Beach Gardens November 20-21, featuring young local dancers

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Paris Ballet and Dance’s upcoming production of The Nutcracker at the Eissey Campus Theatre will feature 75 young dancers. Pictured is Caelan Gagnon. Photo by Julie Luxton.

Just in time for the holidays, Paris Ballet and Dance is bringing the spellbinding magic of The Nutcracker to the Eissey Campus Theatre in Palm Beach Gardens. Performances of the beloved ballet are slated for Saturday, November 20, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday, November 21, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $35.

Set to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s memorable score, the full-length production will feature choreography by the school’s founder and director Jean-Hugues Feray. Feray is a former principal dancer with international companies, including Ballet Florida and National Ballet de Marseille. The performance will showcase the talents of 75 young dancers, ranging in age from 3 to 18.

“Paris Ballet and Dance’s production of The Nutcracker is the perfect show to enthrall, inspire and kick off the holiday season,” Feray said. “It’s a beautiful story and it is truly a must-see show for all ages.”

Clare Keavy and Devon Luxton. Photo by Julie Luxton
Clare Keavy and Devon Luxton. Photo by Julie Luxton

Now in its eleventh year, the annual production has become a beloved family holiday tradition for locals, featuring dazzling costumes, extraordinary sets (including a growing Christmas tree that triples in height onstage), and phenomenal special effects. Audiences will be transported to an enchanting winter wonderland of sparkling snowfall, colorful flowers, and splendid sweets.

The production will feature pre-professional dancers from both Paris Ballet and Dance and the school’s prestigious nonprofit Paris Ballet Conservatory, an elite training program for students preparing for dance careers.

Celebrating the school’s graduating students, dancers include Jupiter resident Devon Luxton (Sugar Plum Cavalier/Arabian Pas de Deux), 17, who has been a finalist for the esteemed Youth America Grand Prix international ballet competition four years in a row; Jupiter resident Crina Ciolacu (Sugar Plum Fairy/Arabian Pas de Deux), 17; Palm Beach Gardens resident Andrea Medina, 17 (Snow Queen/Dew Drop Fairy); and Jupiter resident Clare Keavy (Sugar Plum Fairy/Arabian Pas de Deux), 16. All are graduating this year and are in the process of either auditioning for professional dance companies or major colleges with dance programs.

Raelin Flanigan and Sebastian Bondar. Photo by Julie Luxton
Raelin Flanigan and Sebastian Bondar. Photo by Julie Luxton

“This is a unique chance to see many of these dancers perform before they launch their professional dance careers or continue their training in college,” Feray continued. “I am very proud of the hard work that all of our talented and dedicated students continue to put into their craft. I can’t wait for audience members to see how exceptional our young dancers are.”

This is the company’s first year performing The Nutcracker at the 750-seat Eissey CampusTheatre in Palm Beach Gardens, which offers a professional stage, unmatched lighting, a state-of-the-art sound system, ample parking and spacious seating.

For tickets, call (561) 207-5900 or visit the Eissey Campus Theatre Box Office.

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