Charlottesville Ballet and the Academy Center of the Arts recently announced the long-awaited return of professional ballet into the Lynchburg performing arts scene.
In celebration of the Academy’s Opening Week, Charlottesville Ballet, supported by live music from the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra, will be performing The Nutcracker on Dec. 15, 2018 to launch a full season of professional ballet in Lynchburg.
Charlottesville Ballet Co-Director, Emily Mott Hartka, a graduate of E.C. Glass High School and the former Virginia School of the Arts, has collaborated with the Academy Center of the Arts to restore professional ballet in Lynchburg.
Charlottesville Ballet’s professional company is comprised of 15 dancers from all over the United States, from Virginia to California, and abroad, from Brazil to Japan, with over 625 students in their Charlottesville Ballet Academy.
“Becoming the resident dance company at the Academy fulfills our goal of bringing professional ballet to Lynchburg. We’ve been collaborating and performing in Lynchburg since 2010, and the timing of the opening of the newly renovated Academy could not be better,” said Hartka.
It was in 2010 that Hartka and her fellow Co-Director, Sara Clayborne, approached their long-term mentor, Keith Lee, co-founder of the former Dance Theatre of Lynchburg, about the possibility of becoming a fixture in the Lynchburg arts community.
“Keith has been instrumental in the growth of the Ballet’s presence in the Lynchburg area,” said Clayborne.
Since 2015, Charlottesville Ballet has held sold-out productions of The Nutcracker at E.C. Glass Civic Auditorium. This year, for the first time, the dancers will be accompanied by live music, courtesy of the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra. The two performances will also feature the Cantate Children’s and Youth Choir singing the beloved “Land of Snowflakes,” inspired by the Ballet’s sponsor, Massanutten Resort.
Performing alongside the professional dancers this season will be more than 120 community guests, ranging in age from 5 to 75, with students from the Charlottesville Ballet Academy and community partner, Central Virginia Ballet in Lynchburg.
The Nutcracker has a 90-minute run time and also affords opportunities for special VIP experiences at the Academy. After the 2:00 p.m. performance, Class with Clara will allow young dancers to take to the stage. Designed for girls and boys aged 3 to 8, participants will learn introductory ballet steps and enjoy photo opportunities with dancers from the show, while adults partake in a holiday cocktail.
Prior to the evening performance, patrons can Meet the Ballet at 6:00 p.m. with a 30-minute introduction to the show that includes discussions on choreography, music, and the process of bringing ballet to the stage.
Guests will enjoy complimentary classic cocktails with the maestro as they peek behind the scenes of Lynchburg’s new resident ballet company.
“We have been dreaming about this collaboration for a long time,” said Hartka. “Sara and I are thrilled at the prospect of bringing The Nutcracker and future productions to this beautiful revitalized theatre. This would not be possible without the support of the Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation and its commitment to combine forces with community partners for the purpose of bringing music, singing, and dance together.”
Tickets are available now through the Academy Center of the Arts box office or by calling 434-528-3256 x 300.
For further details and information regarding The Nutcracker, visit www.CharlottesvilleBallet.org/Nutcracker-Lynchburg.
