The Blacksburg Ballet presents The Nutcracker on Saturday, December 10th at 1:00 pm and 6:00 pm and the Moss Arts Center at Virginia Tech! Tickets are available through the Moss Arts Center ticket office and by utilizing the links at the bottom of the page. Stay up-to-date on special announcements, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, and more by following the Blacksburg Ballet on Facebook and Instagram @blacksburgballet. Keep reading for an interview with Director and Producer, Paige Godwin, as she chats about this year’s performances.
What is it about Blacksburg Ballet's Nutcracker production that makes it special and unique?
My favorite part of our production is the perfect balance between professional production and community performance. Audience members have the opportunity to watch professional ballerinas performing the iconic pas de deux, immediately followed by Blacksburg Ballet and Dance.tech students showcasing ballet, tap, jazz, and acro. Then you turn around and see your professor or the local server from Wine Lab dancing as a Party Parent, and a gymnast from Virginia Techniques executing flips and tricks, then, woah, the Hokie Bird makes their guest appearance. There's a little extra something in every scene that highlights our love for all things local, all while offering the same quality that you would get in a big city.
What is your favorite part about producing the Nutcracker each year?
It is, without a doubt, showing off that the New River Valley is an artistic force to be reckoned with. Our community members are extremely talented and are eager for every opportunity they have to perform and share their gifts. From the young students that get SO excited to invite their whole class from school to the field trip performance, to the parents that say, "Hey, did you know I know how to waltz, can we incorporate that?" It's incredibly rewarding to see people feeling valued and applauded.
Is anything slated to be different in this year's production?
Yes! This year we will be having belly dance performers join us from Hill and Veil at Virginia Tech. We will also be having a traditional Chinese dance and Kung Fu demonstration from members of the Blacksburg Chinese School. Outreach-wise, we have started a new Small Business Spotlight program that features fun photoshoots and will be showcasing local business partners throughout the months of November and December. It's invigorating to find new ways of incorporating different subsets of our community each season.
Why should someone choose to come see Blacksburg Ballet's Nutcracker?
Value and variety. Our show changes each year, becoming more intricate and elaborate. It's the only local production featuring such a variety of performance styles and skills, and is a 5-star show!
1:00 PM
6:00 PM
