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The ballet with a household name, thanks to its association with Christmas, will come to Las Cruces when the Borderlands Ballet Company, directed by Monique Foster, presents six performances of “The Nutcracker” over two weekends at New Mexico State University’s Center for the Arts.
“‘The Nutcracker’ is the most iconic of all the classical ballets,” the Las Cruces-based dance company stated in a news release. “It somehow manages to hold its place as a wildly popular holiday event and also a great work of art, with some of the greatest choreography ever created set to the exquisite score of (Pyotr Ilyich) Tchaikovsky.”
The show will include, for the second consecutive year, a live orchestra conducted by Grammy-winning artist, and NMSU music professor, Jorge Martinez-Rios. He is also the conductor of the NMSU Philharmonic and La Frontera Philharmonic as well as principal violist for the Las Cruces Symphony. This year, he will lead the recently-formed Binational Orchestra, which has performed in Las Cruces, El Paso and Ciudad Juárez.
As for the dance ensemble, the role of Clara will be performed by 12-year-old Lesley Dill, the company announced, while Juliana Garcia will dance as the Sugar Plum Fairy. And Godfather Drosselmeyer will be performed by NMSU theatre major Mario Montiel, who recently played Dracula in American Southwest Theatre Company’s production of “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors.”
Rounding out the ensemble are Avery Hinckley (Nutcracker/Cavalier), Gavin Elftman and Brooke Gonzales (Snow King and Queen), Joshua Godman and Rachel Breck (Coffee), Isabella Jacquez and Santiago Garzon (Chocolate), Allene Barton (Tea), Janelle Hernandez with Gavin Elftman and Santiago Garzon (Candy Canes), Taylor Cantu (Ballerina Doll), Rae Milette (Jester Doll), Santiago Garzon (Kossack Doll) and guest artist Kinnon Fields (Fritz).
The ballet company said “The Nutcracker” will run for approximately one hour and 45 minutes, with a 15-minute intermission.
Performances will be Dec. 13 at 7 p.m.; Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Dec. 20 and 21 at 7 p.m.; and Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. The performances will be at the ASNMSU Center for the Arts, 1000 E. University Avenue. Reservations are available online at our.show/nutcracker2024.
Borderlands Ballet Company’s annual Nutcracker Gala, a black-tie event for donors to the company, will take place following the Dec. 13 opening night performance. More information is available at Borderlands-Ballet.com.
