Nutcracker Ballet Performed in Seaside Nov 23

Make plans to come out to Seaside and catch the holiday spirit with the performance of a classic on center stage. The Merchants of Seaside are hosting the 2nd annual Nutcracker ballet to be performed by the Dance Academy of Seaside Neighborhood School (SNS) and Alpharetta Dance Theatre. The one-time performance is free and open to the public Saturday, Nov. 23 at 5 p.m. in the Seaside Amphitheater.

The Nutcracker in Seaside is under the direction of Rose Barile, an honor graduate of Juilliard School and former Prima Ballerina of the Atlanta Ballet, who danced Sugar Plum Fairy for decades. Barile recently celebrated her 30th anniversary as Director of Alpharetta Dance Theatre and her company has performed the Nutcracker in North Atlanta for 17 years. “I truly enjoy working with the SNS dancers; they are extremely enthusiastic about learning,” said Barile. “We are creating an opportunity for these students to develop qualities of strength, discipline and leadership in their school and communities."

Featuring Act II, with choreography by Barile, the Nutcracker in Seaside will last approximately an hour. Set to a score by Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky, the performance features 22 Alpharetta Dance Theatre ballerinas and 25 Dance Academy of SNS dancers. SNS dancers expand their role this year by performing three Act II dances: Angels, Candy Canes and Polichinelles. The show opens with a Christmas Carol performance by SNS’s music department, led by Balder Saunders, followed by students from local elementary schools dancing to the overture of Angels.   

Seaside co-founder and patron of the Arts Daryl Davis invited Alpharetta Dance Theatre dancers back to perform the Nutcracker with the SNS dancers after standing room only was available at last year’s show. Several of the SNS students are returning to the Nutcracker stage including Emma Pilcher and Caroline Bailey stating, "We are eager to perform the Nutcracker again this year!” Averie Lico, Alpharetta Dancer Theatre Sugarplum Fairy said, "Seaside is a magical place to present the Nutcracker and I am honored to dance as the Sugarplum Fairy this year."  

The Dance Academy of Seaside Neighborhood School is directed by both Andrea Alfieri, the jazz and musical theatre instructor and Seleta Hayes Howard, the classical ballet mistress. Founded by Alfieri, Cathy Brubaker and Howard in 2011, the program currently enrolls 27 students and has enhanced the school’s curriculum by offering alternatives to traditional physical education classes.

Hayes Howard, Nutcracker Ballet Mistress and former student of Barile, said, “We are grateful for the support of Daryl Davis, who is dedicated to bringing the Arts into our community. Our program provides students with the tools to improve their confidence, discipline, and dance skills for both presenting material and working toward a goal. This gives them a great sense of achievement as well as skills they will use in all life situations. It is an honor for them to share this cultural experience with our community.” 

Alfieri, an On/Off Broadway veteran also commented, “For a classically trained dancer, Christmas is not complete without the Nutcracker. Having also danced this ballet from age eight well into my late twenties, it’s a joy to be part of sharing this magical holiday tradition with our students at SNS and the 30A community.”

Main photo by Sheila Goode, Goode Green Photography.