(Photo by Bari Lee)
WATSONVILLE — Agape Dance Academy is giving a boost to two organizations that support families during difficult times.
A portion of ticket sales from its Nutcracker production, set for Saturday and Sunday at the Henry J. Mello Center in Watsonville, will go to Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services and Hospice of Santa Cruz County.
This year’s production will be graced with professional dancers from the San Francisco Ballet in the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier. Students from Agape Dance Academy will have the opportunity to share the stage and watch from the wings as professional dancers execute the Sugar Plum’s pas-de-deux.
Guest artist Kimberly Marie Olivier and Agape Artistic Director Melanie Useldinger share the same passion for combining classical ballet with outreach to the community. As an adjunct to the Music in May program, Olivier offered to teach a master class at Agape Dance Academy, and a match was made.
Students, parents and community members are joining forces all over the world to bring Nutcracker ballets to almost every region in the world. As early as August and September, auditions begin to cast the roles to students, training five and six days a week with rigorous discipline.
Achieving a high-caliber classical ballet training means saying “no” to most everything a typical teen is doing in their formative years, Useldinger said. However, she noted, to have a rare skill combined with focus and determination at that level will serve the dancers as they go forward in most every field of work, study or endeavor in the future.
A portion of the proceeds from Saturday’s performance will go to Jacob’s Heart, while Sunday’s will benefit Hospice.
Performances take place at the Henry J. Mello Center, 250 East Beach St. in Watsonville, and are Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Admission ranges from $16-$25. For tickets, visit santacruznutcracker.com.
