250 NFA Dance Scholars Perform Not-So-Traditional Nutcracker

Earlier this December, the Newburgh Free Academy Dance Department presented a not so traditional version of the classical tale The Nutcracker. 

The performance included the traditional story line and using the Tchaikovsky score, but added in some other, more modern songs to make it "a not-so-traditional" version. 

Seniors in the dance department danced the lead roles and all 250 scholars who take dance were involved in the production.

 

Photos from The Not-So-Traditional Nutcracker

 

The Story

Act I: The Silberhaus Home

It is Christmas Eve at the Silberhaus’ house.  Mr. and Mrs. Silberhaus their children Clara and Fritz, have gathered with their family and friends to celebrate the holiday.  The festivities begin with dancing.  A mysterious mam appears.  It turns out to be Clara’s godfather, Herr Dosselmeyer.  He gives out presents to the children including a Nutcracker for Clara, which her brother Fritz breaks as he is hopping around on his hobby horse.  Drosselmeyer brought two life-like dolls who dance to the delight of all, except Clara who is still heartbroken over her Nutcracker Doll.  The guests depart and Clara falls asleep with her broken doll.  She dreams that human sized mice try to take her away.  She is saved by her now life-size Nutcracker, but soon finds herself in the middle of battle between toy soldiers and the mice.  The mice retreat and the Nutcracker leads Clara through a pine forest in which the Snowflakes dance around them. She meets the Snow Queen who sends Clara on her way to the The Land of Sweets.

 

Act II:  The Land of Sweets

Clara and the Nutcracker arrive in the Land of Sweets, ruled by the Sugarplum Fairy.  The people of the Land of Sweets present a celebration of sweets from around the world: hot chocolate from Spain, spices from Arabia, tea from China, candy canes from Russia, Marzipan Sweets from France, Fruit from Brazil, and Golden carafes from Africa.  Mother Ginger’s must catch her Gingerbread cookies who would rather dance with Clara than be eaten. Beautiful flowers lead by the Dew Drop Fairy perform for Clara and The Nutcracker.  Sugar Plum Fairy and Clara dance a duet and The Sugar Plum Fairy receives Clara as an equal.  A final dance is performed by all as Clara is whisked away by the Nutcracker, but knows she can always return to the Land of Sweets, perhaps someday as Queen.

 

 

CAST AND DANCES

 

Overture / Clara and Fritz at the Tree / Guest Arrive

Music:  Miniature Overture – Glenn Miller, In The Mood For Christmas – Ben Setzer Orchestra

Clara – Iliana Lopez,  Fritz – Micahel Lopez,  Mrs. Silberhaus – Olivia Fava, Mr. Silberhaus – Marc Alberti, Butler – Miles Goldstein,  and Party Guests:

Modern 2 - Eva Akoto, Marc Alberti, Alasia Ashley, Jessie Bouquet, Olivia Chewins, Da’nayah Christmas, Sydney Corwin, Desiree Diaz, Kaitlyn DiDomenico, Ayanna Dudley, Rachel Fassbender, Olivia Fava, Miles Goldstein, Simone Green, Gabriella Hall, Gloria Kirkland, Matthew Levenstein, Elizabeth Licameli, Angely Magana, Naja Moore, Rayna Oliva, Chelsea Ortiz, Kadijah Peterson, Jasper Reid, Jocelyn Reyes, Ashley Riboul, Naomi Roach,  Joy-Ann Stewart, Roneea Thompson, Sabrina Vachon, Amani Vasquez, Katherine Vidal, Raven Ware, Malik Williams, Leslie Zavala-Arias

 

March

Music:  March Glenn Miller

Iliana Lopez (Clara), Taylor Brooks, Shayla Cuttino, Grace Figueroa, Audrey

Hemingway, Sarah Krueger, Naomi Phimister-Jiminez, Chelsea Pryce, Emily Reischer, Ashley Sabillon, Elisha Telesford, Emma Yeaple

 

Drosselmeyer’s Gifts

Music: The Nutcracker Suite & Lang Lang from The Nutcracker & the Four Realms  soundtrack

Drosselmeyer- Robert Conti, Doll 1 – Olivia Gloffke, Doll 2 – Allison Mayo

 

Clara’s Dream / March of the Toy Soldiers

Music: Tchaikovsky / Radio City Christmas Spectacular soundtrack

Clara – Iliana Lopez, Mice – Taylor Brooks, Ashley Riboul, Nutcracker – Spencer Conti,

Toy Soldiers: Shayla Cuttino, Grace Figueroa, Olivia Gloffke, Audrey Hemingway, Sarah Krueger, Allison Mayo, Naomi Phimister-Jiminez, Chelsea Pryce, Emily Reischer,

 Ashley Sabillon, Elisha Telesford, Emma Yeaple

 

The Battle

Music: China Man, Ed Palermo Orchestra

Clara, Nutcracker, & Toy Soldiers (listed above), Mouse King – Steven Baltsas, Mice: Katherine Alvarado, Taylor Brooks,  Elayzea Clarke, Roxenne Contreras, Deafny Gallo,  Alexandra Garcia, Zakiah Helm, Zhara Jackson, Makiah Lindsley, Blanca Luna,  Ysahni Mayshack, Ciara Ortega, Gabriella Palladino, Ashley Riboul, Analiese Ringgenberg, Ayanah Rivera, Crystal Ruiz, Zaniah Stewart, Sabelle Texeira, Kathryn Turenchalk

 

Nutcracker and Clara Depart for the Forest and The Waltz of the Snowflakes

Music: Tchaikovsky

Clara – Iliana Lopez,, The Nutcracker –Spencer Conti,  Snow Queen – Addison Parker

Snowflakes – Shayla Cuttino, Grace Figueroa, Olivia Gloffke, Audrey Hemingway, Sarah Krueger, Allison Mayo, Naomi Phimister-Jiminez, Chelsea Pryce, Emily Reischer,

 Ashley Sabillon, Elisha Telesford, Emma Yeaple

 

 

~ ~ 10 MINUTE INTERMISSION~ ~

 

 

Sugarplum Fairy

Music: Sugarplum Fairy from The Nutcracker & the Four Realms soundtrack

SugarplumFairy- Nina Zylberberg, Sugarplum Court:, Grace Figueroa (Spain), Sarah Krueger (China),  Shayla Cuttino, Emily Reischer, & Naomi Phimister-Jiminez (France), , Emma Yeaple (Arabia),  Elisha Telesford (Russia), Audrey Hemingway (Brazil), Chelsea Pryce, & Ashley Sabillon (Africa),  Olivia Gloffke & Allison Mayo (flowers)

 

Spanish Hot Chocolate

Music: Tchaikovsky/Enrique Iglesias/ Don Omar

Grace Figueroa and Isolbel Aviles Deliz, Marelyn Bello, Melissa Carbajal, Yeileen Carpio, Armani Cortez, Rubi Cruz, Jenny Garcia, Ashlaya Geter-Robinson, Jennifer Martinez, Aileen Mestizo, Erin Murphy, Esmerelda Nunez, Madison O’Connell, Ashanti Rodenzo, Merari Sanoja, Wyse Smith-Crossman, Isabelle Saint Louis, Alyssa Tarantino, Jailin Tabon

 

Chinese Tea

Music: Tchaikovsky / Chinese Festival

Sarah Krueger and Imani Anglin, Melani Giles Arbieto, Ellisyn Granda, Tajie Inman,

Jesica Lopez, Jasmin Marin, Madison McMillan, Destini Morrison, Rose Petit-Frere, Mya Ramos, Sarah Roach, Tory Shropshire-Howerton, Hailey Swanson, Sophia Turenchalk, Shy’deia Williams, Iyanna Ward

 

 

 

French Marzipan Candy

Music: Tchaikovsky / New Edition

Shayla Cuttino, Naomi Phemister-Jimenez, Emily Reischer and Cailyn Albino, Carly Bove, Symara Burks, Ximena Castillo, Ta’mari Collier, Nigel Corney, Jacqueline Cottini, Jaslyn Martinez Lopez, Amara Mayo, Isabel Medina Daloye Mc Kenzie, Ky’reil Ortiz, Aidan O’Shea, Tyra Osuba, Jennifer Ramos, Saniyah Rios, Sanai Robertson, Angie Saldarriaga Cruzado, Charissa Mae Salley,   Sa’myia  Sims, Giselle Sotelo, Gerard Stackhouse, Naomi Vargas

 

Arabian Spices

Music: Tchaikovsky / Ismail Carbar – Dola Re Dola

Emma Yeaple and Imani Anglin, Nia Bryan, Olivia Chewens, Layla Cornman, Mark Crook, Raven Dunn, Echtanie Exantus, Erica Ghrael, Simone Green, Sydney Green, Nathaly Herrera, Jaylin Hillard, Samantha Iannolo, Shania Lopezdevictoria, Jazmin Morales, Elizabeth Ortiz, Chelsea Quilambaqui, Ashley Reyes, Jaylynn Salazar, Juliana Salazar, Trinity Stackhouse, Jillian Torres, La’shjanae Walker, Amilia Wise-Sweat, Raia Wolfson

 

Russian Candy Canes

Music: Tchaikovsky / Joey Dee & the Starliters

Elisha Telesford and Emy Alamanzar, Ariyana Atkins, Ashley Calderon, Gabrielle Colon, Elizabeth Cruz, Kayla Garcia, Leiyana Gayle, Tegan Maher, Ta’niyah Majano, Summer Martinez, Karissa Mazer, Amara Mayo, Kaylani McDowell, Maricarmen Mejia, Kamora Millan, Keythlin Minaya DeLaCruz, Aidan O’Shea, Keilin Ortega-Castillo, Myong Ryder, Nivieria Spearman, Ashley Strack, Madison Washburn, Arionah Woody

 

Brazilian Fruits

Music: Samba Hits / Sergio Mendes

Audrey Hemingway and Na'veiah Arnold, ,Ashanti Brown ,Amirah Edmond, Yaire Flores-Lucero, Sage Galati, Dianna Gonzalez, ,Parisia Hutchinson, Kylie Jackson, ,Nastajahlae' Johnson,  Aneesa Lewis, Michael Lopez, Dessauni McDonald, Brytny Mendez, Pilar Mera, Charline Ochang, Morelia Ortiz, Alison Rall, Samantha Rodriguez, 

Elizabeth Santana Lugo,  Shaylea Triller

 

African Gold

Music: Sinte / DJ Eric Instrumental Coupe Decale

Drummers: Matt Levinsteing, Marc Alberti, Miles Goldstein

Chelsea Pryce, Ashley Sabillion and Jaelyn Boyd, Ma’Zhanae Bryant, Symara Burks, Jennifer Cardona, Nyasia Chinnis, Eliana David, Aaliyah Dixon, Leah Isaacs, Isabella Jabbour, Xin Xin Liu, Mia Martinez, Daniela Mejia, Chandini Persaud, Rose Petit-Frere, Angelina Porco, Alexandria Tapia, Taylor Walters, Kaniya White-Fuller,

Tatiana Wimberly, Shayla Yozzo

 

Mother Ginger and Her Gingerbread Cookies

Music: Tchaikovsky

Mother Ginger – Naomi Roach, Clara – Iliana Lopez, Gingerbread Cookies: Shayla Cuttino, Grace Figueroa, Chelsea Pryce, Ashley Sabillion, Elisha Telesford

 

 

Waltz of the Flowers

Music: Glenn Miller

Dew Drop Fairy - Nicolette Porcaro and Shayla Cuttino, Grace Figueroa, Audrey

Hemingway, Sarah Krueger, Allison Mayo, Naomi Phimister-Jiminez, Chelsea Pryce,

Emily Reischer, Ashley Sabillon, Elisha Telesford, Emma Yeaple

 

Sugarplum Fairy  and Clara

Sugarplum Fairy – Nina Zylberberg, , Clara – Iliana Lopez

 

Finale

Full Ensemble

 

Production Team

Director - Mandy Clifford – NFA Dance Teacher

Choreography – Mandy Clifford, Iliana Lopez, and students of the NFA Dance Department

Lighting – Ron Jacobsen

Costumes – Amina Villalba and The Darlene Wilson Institute of Dance, Debbie Levy, Briana Bene-Espinal, and members of the NFA Dance Department

Scenic Painting -  Fay Pacht and the NFA Technical Theater Class

Tech Support – Tom Durante

Donation & Fundraising Coordinator – Lisa Zylberberg

Stage Crew – Brandon Rein, Abigail Ho, Timmy Marry, Analiese Ringgenberg

Tech Crew – Joe Canon, Jasper Reid, Matt Levinstein, Robert Conti, Crystal Ruiz

 

Special Thanks to the Following:

NFA Administrative, Security, & Custodial Staffs

NECSD Central Administration and Board of Education

Theresa Brown, Director of Fine and Performing Arts

John Etri – Director of CTEVA

Jennifer Caron and the NFA Culinary Classes

Cassie Sklarz

Fay Pacht

Al Prokosch

 

 

ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!