Community Nutcracker to Open December 10

Sawnee Ballet Theatre (SBT) will exhibit this year’s holiday production as a socially distanced movie over eight showings beginning December 10 at 6:00 pm. In response to Covid-19, the stage ballet will be filmed at North Forsyth High School’s Performing Arts Center for its 29th annual production.

The coronavirus pandemic has canceled performances of “The Nutcracker” around the U.S. and Canada this season, eliminating a major and reliable source of revenue for dance companies already reeling financially following the essential shutdown of their industry.

With that said, Sawnee Ballet Theatre is excited to have found a way to present it’s re-imagined 29th annual holiday production. It has definitely been a challenging feat with obstacles at every turn.

COVID-19 has placed limitations and restrictions on live performances. These limitations make planning and implementing events, especially an event the size of ‘The Nutcracker,’ unfeasible. Venues could not accommodate a large cast, behind the scenes crew, and audience members as well as host all of the magical elements of the show. Local area high schools, where SBT has performed the Nutcracker since 2006, are only allowing a max capacity of 50 people in the building at all times. This limitation made it impossible to even live stream the event. The costs associated with this year’s production far exceed usual expenses. In addition, limited audience capacity has significantly reduced ticket revenue.

Eighty-eight dancers rehearse and film in small, socially distanced scenes to ensure the community-based production not only continues but remains a quality production that boasts of local talent. The cast is comprised of dancers as young as 5 from not only the Cumming/Forsyth area but surrounding cities such as Alpharetta, Canton, Dawsonville, Gainesville, Johns Creek, Sugar Hill, and Suwanee.

While we would certainly prefer to perform live, we feel very blessed to be able carry on a 29-year tradition when so many other local and professional companies cannot. We are providing a very much needed outlet for our dancers to perform, and they are thrilled about our professionally filmed 4 camera angle Nutcracker movie.

“Although 2020 will be different,” said Artistic Director Courtney Bromwich, “we are very optimistic we will continue to make the holidays a joyous time.”

This season’s sponsors, ensuring the continuation of Forsyth’s longest running full-length holiday classic, include Forsyth County Arts Alliance, Sawnee School of Ballet, Constellation Community Champions, Northpointe Bank – The Truth and Lending Team, Central Vacuum Systems, Inc., Canterfield Senior Living Communities, Dance Fashions Superstore, Door to Door Company, Guidepost Montessori and SouthPoint Financial Services, Inc.

Tickets are now on sale for SBT’s socially distanced movie showings December 10-11 and 17-18 at 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm at The Legacy Theatre in Alpharetta. The showings on the 17th and 18th will even feature some live elements from members of the SBT Company. Video on Demand is also available for 12/23-12/26.

For more information and to purchase in person or on demand tickets, please visit www.facebook.com/SawneeBalletTheatre, www.sawneeballettheatre.org, or emailinfo@sawneeballettheatre.org.

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About Sawnee Ballet Theatre

Founded in 1991, Sawnee Ballet Theatre is a 501(c)3 nonprofit performing company founded by Joan Kall Stewart located in Cumming. Led by Artistic Director, Courtney Bromwich, Sawnee Ballet Theatre presents three full-length productions each year: Entrelacé, The Nutcracker, and Spring Concert. The company focuses on classical and contemporary ballet and seeks to provide high quality theater engaging the audience’s mind and spirit with timeless productions. Since its inception, SBT has made significant contributions to the arts community through instruction and performance. Together with Sawnee School of Ballet, Sawnee Ballet Theatre strives to inspire young adults with excellence in arts education and provides the preparatory training environment to enable dancers to pursue professional careers in dance.

For more information, please visit www.sawneeballettheatre.org