Melville Dancer, 15, Nabs Leading Role in Eglevsky Ballet's 'The Nutcracker'

A 15-year-old dancer from Melville will portray the lead role of “Clara” in Eglevsky Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts this holiday season.

Sarah Gavilla, a student at St. Antony’s High School, will perform as the ballet’s heroine alongside two principal dancers from the New York City Ballet, including Savannah Lowery as the “Sugar Plum Fairy.”

“Sarah is thrilled to perform this role so close to home and be able to have her friends and family come see the show,” Gavilla’s mother Christine Gavilla said.

Performances of “The Nutcracker” will take place at the Tilles Center for the Performing arts, located on the LIU Post Campus in Brookville, on the following dates:

• Saturday, Dec. 19 at 6 p.m.
• Sunday, Dec. 20 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

The holiday classic will feature new choreography from Eglevsky Ballet’s executive artistic director Maurice Brandon Curry, who looks to give to tale a bit of a twist.

Those who watch the performance can expect additional theatrical and dramatic elements, as well as more of a focus on ‘Clara’s’ story.

“I wanted to delve a little deeper into the characters of ‘Clara’ and ‘Drosselmeyer’ and also increase the participation of our incredibly talented academy of students with our professional dancers,” Curry said in a press release.

Instead of the Snow Queen and Snow King performing the pas de deux, Curry has assigned the dance to Gavilla and “Nutcracker Prince,” who will be portrayed by Matthew Herman, 15, of Syosset.

“By doing this, the connection between the two characters becomes more developed and also gives the opportunity for Clara’s dream to have a more poignant and personal effect on the audience,” Curry said.

Alumn Jana Oberman, who portrayed “Clara” in the 1989 Eglevsky Ballet production, will return this year to perform alongside Gavilla as “Clara’s” mother “Mrs. Stahlbaum.”

Gavilla continues to progress in leading roles. Last year, she was cast as “Clara” for the touring company of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

Photo 1 - Sarah Gavilla, rehearsing as Clara in Eglevsky Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Photo credit Emma Mannino.

Photo 2 - Sarah Gavilla as Clara and Matthew Herman as The Nutcracker Prince practicing for Eglevsky Ballet’s Nutcracker. Photo credit Emma Mannino.