Fine Arts
Bars/Clubs
Dining
Music
Movies
Literature
Fitness
Recreation
Attractions
Community
Professionals
Bright Idea: [Check out the Local Music Player located on the 
By CategoryThe Nutcracker 2005
Printer-Friendly Version | Email This Article
The Nutcracker 2005Presented by the Civic Ballet of Volusia County
2005-12-15
Article Written by: Charles Griffin
With another year comes another production of the Nutcracker, and when the gods of dance conspire to lure young dancers into that mystical realm of magic, we all believe—even the most jaded of us. Thankfully, the Civic Ballet of Volusia County's presentation was not just another repetitive, dull affair.
In this show, there were more than eighty youngsters with varying minor parts. In the interest of fairness, if I were to mention any names, I would then have to mention all of every name, and you would quickly tire of reading this article. Suffice to say that all the junior members of the Ballet performed admirably. I'm not claiming that mistakes did not occur among this bunch of 8 to 12 year olds, but there were none that detracted from the overall beauty and fun of the performance.
The principal ballerina—other than the professional dancers featured in the latter half of the show—was Angie Bevevino dancing as Clara. Since Clara is the center of the show and onstage in every scene, a mighty weight was on her shoulders, but Bevevino was superb.
All the senior level girls performed wonderfully, professionally even. Their names are: Rachel Copeland, Madeline Federaro, Shannon Flick, Raquel Krupa, Erin 
Potter, Alana Read, Katherine Roth, Elizabeth Roth, Beck Ruffing, Emily Ruffing, Sarah Santos, Lindey Sperber, Kathryn Sperber and Lexie Agnone, who was especially noteworthy as the Arabian Bird of Paradise.
The real genii of the show are Lori Smoak, Germaine Bledsoe, Janice Waligroski, Mellisa June and Tara Bryan who directed and choreographed the performance. Ellen Sperber along with all the parents, volunteers and friends of the company added ever more magic to the production. Without their participation the show might not ever happen.
James Yoder had the task of embodying —Uncle Drosselmeyer— and he was appropriately maniacal as the freaky and weird magician. John Kemper excelled as the Nutcracker prince, performing marvelously with Bevevino.
Then there was the icing on the cake. Giselle DiBlasi and Patrick Turner, both professional dancers, performed a Pas de Deux of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier toward the end of the ballet. Each did an individual turn as well, bringing applause from the audience.
All in all the performance met the promise we saw in our preview. Now, as we said then, it must all begin again, especially with the youngsters who were in the audience and now have stars in their eyes and dreams of dancing in the Nutcracker next year.
More information about Peabody Auditorium
