The Nutcracker 2019

THE 5TH ANNUAL NUTCRACKER BALLET
Oshwal Auditorium December 1st
Kenya National Theatre 7th & 8th 2019

BUY TICKETS HERE

Attending the Dance Centre Kenya full-length production of The Nutcracker is now a highlight of the upcoming festive season in Nairobi. The fifth annual production will ensure that the audience enjoys the beauty and magic of this holiday delight. The popular Tchaikovsky classic, a traditional fairytale ballet in two acts centered on a family’s Christmas Eve celebration, is known to exude elegance leaving audiences with a remarkable feeling as the cast promisingly delivers synchrony and grace throughout the story.

Dance Centre Kenya opens this Nutcracker season at The Oshwal Centre Auditorium with two performances, starting at 1 pm & 4.30 pm on Sunday, December 1st. The following weekend starts with another matinee at 3 pm at the Kenya National Theatre on Saturday, December 7th. This year’s Exclusive Gala Evening will be held that same evening of December 7th. The reception begins at 6 pm with a complimentary cocktail and hor d’oeuvres, after which the performance will begin at 7 pm. Following the gala night, there will be two additional matinees on Sunday, December 8th at 1 pm and 4.30 pm. Children will enjoy Sugar Plum Tea Parties one hour prior to all Sunday performances with juice, cupcakes and sweets plus the opportunity of a backstage tour and the chance to meet the Sugar Plum Fairy and the other characters from the ballet.

After last year’s the successful addition of live orchestra to the performance, again this year the Nairobi Philharmonic Orchestra will accompany all of the Nutcracker performances. Reputed for bringing music from world-renowned classical composers, familiar local icons and everything in between, the Nairobi Philharmonic will be performing the full-length Nutcracker Ballet repertoire live. Fred Pessa, resident conductor, together with the other musicians from the Nairobi Philharmonic will undeniably bring an engaging performance. Jonathan Taylor Rush will make his return to the Nairobi “stage” by conducting the orchestra again this year. Jonathan, winner of the Respighi Prize in Conducting and former Music Director of the Buckeye Philharmonic Orchestra of the Ohio State University, will be sure to bring passion, refreshing energy and the whole repertoire to life as he conducts each piece joined by additional guest musicians coming from Berlin, New York and Chicago.

Included in the electrifying performances will be the addition of the must-see Chinese Dragon, new and upgraded costumes, and the largest cast of dancers to date! Also, after three years of guest performers coming to perform the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier, this year’s production will see Dance Centre Kenya’s own students Nifa Omondi and sponsored student George Okoth perform the Sugar Plum grand pas de deux. Nifa, an 8th Grade West Nairobi School student, has spent the previous three summers training abroad in the United States. George, a Year 10 student at Nairobi Academy, came from humble beginnings in Kibera, and has beaten the odds through dance and is looking at an incredibly bright future. No one should miss seeing these rising stars perform.

Dance Centre Kenya is acclaimed for the diversity of the students and performers, and a highlight of the production will again be the inclusion of scholarship students from Kibera and Kuwinda in roles ranging from the Sugar Plum Cavalier to Chinese Tea. In a further attempt to improve inclusion of children from all kinds of backgrounds, Dance Centre Kenya works together in this production with three other charities, i.e. Lunch Bowl Network, Artists for Africa and Project Elimu, whose students will join in the Nutcracker shows by performing the parts of the lovely little cherubs and the brave little Mice.

This year’s Nutcracker is brought to you by season patron and platinum sponsors APA, The Yaya Towers and Hotel, Palacina and AAA Growers, along with many other gold, silver, and bronze level sponsors. Tickets are available through www.kenyabuzz.com. Click here to buy tickets. For more information about the performances please contact Dance Centre Kenya on 0705 725 369 or email info@dancecentre.co.ke

Contact Us:
Email – marketing@dancecentre.co.ke
Phone – 0705 725 369