Eglevsky Ballet Presents "The Nutcracker"

BETHPAGE, NEW YORK --- Eglevsky Ballet, Long Island’s premier ballet company and academy presents

its annual production of the holiday classic, THE NUTCRACKER featuring choreography by the company’s executive artistic director, Maurice Brandon Curry and starring Unity Phelan, soloist at New York City Ballet as the “Sugar Plum Fairy” and Jared Angle, principal dancer at New York City Ballet as her “Cavalier”.

Celebrated film and stage actor Chris Comfort will portray Clara’s lovable and mysterious godfather, “Drosselmeyer”. Under the direction of maestro David Bernard, the Massapequa Philharmonic Orchestra will play Tschiakovsky’s magnificent score. The performances will take place on Saturday, December 16th, at 1pm and and 5pm and Sunday, December 17th at 2 PM at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Long Island University in Brookville.

Mr. Curry has staged this production of THE NUTCRACKER (the third in his career) as a traditional one, albeit with unique dimensions added throughout. “Eglevsky Ballet has long been known for its approach to this treasured story,” says Curry. “Our production delves deeper into the characters of ‘Clara’ and ‘Drosselmeyer’ and also blends our incredibly talented academy students seamlessly with our professional dancers. Also, the production is highly theatrical while keeping the dancing as the true star of the ballet.” Unity Phelan was born in Princeton, New Jersey and began her dance training at the age of five at the Princeton Ballet School, where her teachers included Douglas Martin, Maria Youskevitch, and Mary Barton. During the summers of 2008 and 2009, Ms. Phelan attended the summer sessions at the School of American Ballet, the official school of New York City Ballet, and enrolled as a full-time student in fall of 2009.

She became an apprentice with NYCB in December 2012 and joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in November 2013. In February 2017, Ms. Phelan was promoted to soloist. She was featured on the cover of the January 2016 issue of Dance Magazine as one of their “25 to Watch” dance artists.

Jared Angle was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania where he began his early dance training at age six at the Allegheny Ballet Academy. He entered the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, in the fall of 1996. In 1997, Mr. Angle received the Rudolf Nureyev Scholarship to continue his training at SAB for the 1997-1998 school year. Mr. Angle became an apprentice with New York City Ballet in March 1998 and joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in July 1998. He was promoted to the rank of soloist in February 2001. On November 11, 2005, Mr. Angle was promoted to principal dancer following a performance during a Company visit to Denmark for the reopening of the Tivoli Concert Hall.

Additionally, Mr. Curry has welcomed back to the stage several Eglevsky Ballet Alumni to participate in the ballet’s well-known party scene as the parents and guests of the Stahlbaums, the fictional family who are the party’s hosts. “It is delightful to meet so many people who have fond memories of their years dancing in THE NUTCRACKER at Eglevsky Ballet. I am happy they were all delighted when I extended the offer and are having some wonderful rehearsals,” says Curry.

One of these alumni is Jennifer Sauter, who as a young child and teenager appeared in many of the Eglevsky Ballet productions of this ballet. This year, Ms. Sauter returns to play the role of “Mrs. Stahlbaum”, Clara’s mother. "I began dancing with Eglevsky Ballet at the age of six and made many great friends over the years. I performed in Eglevsky’s production of The Nutcracker for five years as a child and loved every moment of it. I am honored to have been asked to perform with Eglevsky Ballet again this year as Frau Stahlbaum, and am excited to share this holiday tradition with everyone.”

This year, “Clara” is being portrayed by 16-year old Yumiko Yanagihara of Syosset. Miss Yanagihara is a junior at Syosset High School. This new production, which premiered last year, has a number of different elements chosen to dispense with the pas de deux usually performed by the Snow Queen and Snow King. Instead, it will be danced by Yanagihara as “Clara” and the “Nutcracker Prince”, portrayed by Eglevsky Ballet company dancer Greg DeSantis. Curry says, “By doing this, the connection between the two characters is more developed and also gives the opportunity for Clara’s dream to have a more poignant and personal effect on our audiences.”

Broadway lighting designer Paul Miller (“Legally Blonde,” “Macbeth”, “Amazing Grace,” etc.) lend his talents to this year’s production. Renown tutu designer Chris Takashima has designed several new costumes for the production as well as master tailor Darlene Jackson and Mr. Curry. New set pieces and refurbishment provided by M. A. D. Props of Long Island.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Over 55 years ago, legendary dancer Andre Eglevsky envisioned a classical ballet school and company on Long Island that would equal, if not, rival, the artistic endeavors offered in New York City. Today, Eglevsky Ballet is growing and expanding its artistic base, led by Maurice Brandon Curry, the seventh Artistic Director in the company’s history.

This year, Eglevsky Ballet celebrates the centennial birth year of its founder, André Eglevsky. Emmy award winning actor, Alec Baldwin is joining the company for the year-long celebration, “A Season of New Dreams” as its Honorary Chairperson. Eglevsky Ballet continues its annual tradition of “The Nutcracker,” the largest and only professional production on Long Island.

In Spring 2018, the company will premiere a new production of “Cinderella”. Eglevsky Ballet also boasts a full-time professional training academy located in Bethpage, with a Children’s Division, Pre Professional Training Program, and an Educational Outreach program called “EB Dance!” Students from Nassau and Suffolk counties, as well as Queens and Brooklyn travel to the 7500- square foot state-of the-art facility where they train with an outstanding faculty of professional educators and world renown dance artists.