PORT ANGELES — Miracles happen at Christmas time, many around here believe.
You might not think it possible for dancers from six schools, music from Russia and the history of Clallam County to all meet on one stage.
But in the world of “The Nutcracker,” it is not only possible.
The dream, as on stages around the world, is real this Saturday and Sunday as the Ballet Workshop of Port Angeles brings “The Nutcracker” home again.
Collaborating with the Juan de Fuca Foundation for the Arts, Ballet Workshop director Kate Long presents a production set to Tchaikovsky’s classic score — with a distinctly Clallam County story.
It’s Christmas Eve 1895, and times are tough. But young Marie and her brother Frank are getting ready for their family’s big dance, an event that draws musicians, entertainers and friends from all over town.
One is Marie and Frank’s wealthy godfather, Gregers M. Lauridsen, who comes bearing the gift of a nutcracker.
The party ends at midnight, and snow begins to fall.
This is when the pair of children go on a journey with the Nutcracker Prince, to the Land of Sweets, to the realm of the Snow Queen, and to the fields where lavender sparkles.
With a cast of 75, sets depicting Hurricane Ridge, actors from Port Angeles and professional dancers from San Francisco and Vancouver, B.C., “The Nutcracker” will unfold just twice: at 7 p.m. Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Port Angeles High School Performing Arts Center, 304 E. Park Ave.
Tickets are $10 for children 14 and younger and $15 to $35 for older teens and adults via JFFA.org, Port Book and News in Port Angeles and the Joyful Noise Music Center in Sequim.
“There’s a historical richness to this area; a way of life people love celebrating,” said Long, who became the owner of the Ballet Workshop in 2014.
She bought the school from Sylvia Wanner, the woman who founded it in 1970. Wanner staged numerous “Nutcrackers,” the last in 2010.
Long is dedicating this “Nutcracker” to Wanner, in honor of the time and heart she poured into her dance program, which has sent many a performing artist out to the world.
Tiffany Gillespie is one of these.
A faculty member at the Ballet Workshop now, she’s marveling at the 2015 production, with its Clallam history, fresh choreography — and comical moments such as the “Chefs and Crabs” dance, a ballet piece involving children in chef’s hats and kids in crimson Dungeness crab costumes.
“All of our flowers are lavender,” she added, referring to Tchaikovsky’s famed “Waltz of the Flowers.”
Courtney Smith, 11, and Maria Burke, 8, dance the roles of Marie and Frank, the siblings at the story’s center.
“ ‘The Nutcracker’ is my favorite ballet,” said Courtney, who’s been in two others already: an earlier Ballet Workshop production and the Northwest Ballet Theatre version that came to Port Angeles last year.
She and Maria are among the dancers from four local schools: the Port Angeles Dance Center, Sequim Ballet, Aspire Academy of Sequim and the Ballet Workshop.
They rehearsed at their respective schools for months, then joined together as December neared.
“The kids have been super resilient,” said Long, adding that there’s no shortage of enthusiasm among the dancers.
Long has brought in students from her time teaching ballet in Vancouver, B.C.: Aya Thygesen, now with the Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Seattle, dances the Snow Queen, while Nicole Prefontaine, now with the San Francisco Ballet School, is the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Prefontaine’s sister Martina was initially cast in this iconic role, but suffered an injury.
“Nicole learned this ballet” in a matter of months, Long said.
Also in this tale of a brother and sister, Long is bringing another professional dancer, this one from the National Ballet of Canada in Vancouver.
He’s Noah Long, her brother, and he dances the Nutcracker Prince.
To complete the cast — and the party scene — an ensemble of local actors will appear. Richard Stephens portrays Lauridsen; Matt McCarthy, Dave Shargel and Mike Roggenbuck are the Elwha, Forks and Dungeness fathers respectively, and Jeremy Pederson and Sarah Tucker are the lead father and mother.
Long wanted this “Nutcracker” to be a traditional one, set in the 19th century just as the very first production was in St. Petersburg, Russia.
She’s chosen to highlight the North Olympic Peninsula’s traditions, to make the ballet relatable.
“I wanted this to be very personal,” she said.
For Courtney, “The Nutcracker” is that. It’s also about challenge — and joy.
“There’s actually a lot of hard work that goes into it,” the preteen said.
Still, “it’s just super fun.”
