The Nutcracker Ballet is a New Seaside Tradition on Dec. 8

We have some wonderful holiday traditions in SoWal, and the Merchants of Seaside have started a new one. They plan each year to stage a free performance of the Nutcracker ballet.

The first performance of the new annual tradition features the Alpharetta Dance Theatre and the Dance Academy of Seaside Neighborhood School. The one-night performance is free on Dec. 8 at 5pm in the Seaside Amphitheater. 

Seaside co-founder Daryl Davis invited Alpharetta Dance Theatre to perform the Nutcracker in Seaside after seeing their fall performance and dance workshop for the Dance Academy of Seaside Neighborhood School.
   
Alpharetta Dance Theatre is under the direction of Rose Barile, an honor graduate of Juilliard School and former Prima Ballerina of the Atlanta Ballet. Barile recently celebrated her 30th anniversary as Director of Alpharetta Dance Theatre and her company has performed the Nutcracker in North Atlanta for 16 years.
 
Seaside Neighborhood School Ballet Mistress, Seleta Hayes Howard, a former student of Barile, is co-directing the Nutcracker along with Barile. “We could not have done this without the support of Daryl Davis, who is truly a trail blazer for bringing the Arts into our community," Howard says.  "We are thrilled to provide this performance opportunity with Seaside Neighborhood School dancers and Alpharetta Dance Theatre.  Our goal is for Ms. Barile to continue working with our dancers so we can encourage them in their development of becoming talented performers; and what greater gift than to share this culture with our community.”
 
The Nutcracker, set to a score by Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky, features choreography by Barile. The one hour show will feature Act II, performed by Alpharetta Dance Theatre.  The choreography was also staged to include 24 of the dancers from the Dance Academy of Seaside Neighborhood School, who are performing the role of "Angels."  The Music Department of Seaside Neighborhood School will open the show with a Christmas Carol performance.