OCTOBER 24, 2012
The Nutcracker – Ballet Arizona's holiday tradition sparkles in Symphony Hall Dec. 7 - 24
PHOENIX - The holiday season is just around the corner and Ballet Arizona is proud to announce their 27th year of The Nutcracker performances, choreographed by renowned Artistic Director Ib Andersen. The Nutcracker will run from December 7-24 for a total of nineteen performances, with afternoon and evening shows at Symphony Hall, 75 N. 2nd St in downtown Phoenix.
Tickets for The Nutcracker start at $26 and are available through Ballet Arizona's Box Office at (602) 381-1096, Ticketmaster or online at www.balletaz.org. Discounts for seniors and students and groups of 10 or more are available through the Box Office.
The highly anticipated performances include dancing toys, mischievous mice, waltzing flowers, and sparkling snowflakes who dance to Tchaikovsky's enchanting score performed live by The Phoenix Symphony.
Forty-five minutes before each performance of The Nutcracker, audiences are invited to the Symphony Hall lobby for pre-show events including storytelling and photos with the Sugar Plum Fairy beneath Ballet Arizona's 20 foot Christmas tree hung with decorated toe shoes. Hot cocoa and cookies are available for purchase.
Some interesting facts from this season's The Nutcracker performances:
There are 260 costumes in The Nutcracker, requiring more than 6,500 yards of fabric. A tutu alone takes 12 yards of material and over 60 hours to produce.
Over 100,000 Austrian Swarovsky crystals make the spectacular Snow Scene sparkle.
Nutcracker scenic elements including sets, lights, costumes and special effects require four tractor trailers and two 24-foot trucks to bring the production to Symphony Hall.
The Mouse King is over 9 feet tall with his crown.
During the run of The Nutcracker Ballet Arizona female dancers will use over 300 pairs of pointe shoes. Pointe shoes are custom made and cost over $90 a pair. Most pairs of shoes last one performance.
Costume department personnel will wash about 125 loads of laundry during the run of The Nutcracker.
The production of Nutcracker uses 25 different backdrops to create the magical story.
The Nutcracker is sponsored by SCF, Arizona.
