Youths join professionals in 'Nutcracker' dance

By JAN HEFLER
The Philadelphia Inquirer

It was the last rehearsal before the local ballet dancers, ages 6 through 20, perform The Nutcracker at the Scottish Rite Auditorium.

On Wednesday and Thursday, they will become Snowflakes, Mice, Soldiers, the Nutcracker doll, and the Chinese, Spanish, Arabian and Russian dancers in Tchaikovsky's popular ballet. They will perform alongside 20 professionals from the Donetsk Ballet Company, a Ukrainian troupe.

The company is among several that will perform the classic with local youths in South Jersey venues next month.