Syosset Boy, 15, Nabs Role in Eglevsky Ballet's 'The Nutcracker'

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

Matthew Herman, 15, of Syosset, will perform alongside Sarah Gavilla, 15, of Melville, as “Clara.”

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.

Instead of the ”Snow Queen” and “Snow King” performing the pas de deux, Curry has assigned the dance to Gavilla and Herman, “Clara” and the “Nutcracker Prince.”

“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.

He added, “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.”

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