Bringing the Magic of Nutcracker to Everyone’s Home This Holiday

Nutcracker by Ukrainian Shumka Dancers. Photo: Gregg Ingram
Ukrainian Shumka Dancers

Nutcracker – Part of Dance Victoria’s (Virtual) Home Season, December 10-13, 2020

Dance Victoria is bringing the magic of the holiday classic, Nutcracker, to the safety and comfort of your home this December with the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers featuring guest artists from the Kyiv Ballet of the National Opera of Ukraine. And if Dance Victoria has its way, every marginalized child will have equal opportunity to see this incredible presentation through the Nutcracker Kids campaign.

“Last year we presented this exuberant production at the Royal Theatre and it brought the house down,” explains Executive Producer Stephen White. “There’s a huge Ukrainian dance sequence (a Hopak) in the second half of the program with dancers leaping, flipping and tumbling across the stage. It is truly remarkable. Last year the Royal Theatre audience jumped to their feet when it was all over!”

Because we can’t be at the Royal this season and because we have a long tradition of asking our community to help us bring children and families that are facing life challenges to the Nutcracker, this season we’re looking for support to bring Shumka’s Nutcracker to everyone’s home.

As part of this initiative, Dance Victoria is partnering with Victoria Women’s Transition House and other agencies through our Nutcracker Kids program. Each $65 donation is matched with free access the online Nutcracker package. You can visit DanceVictoria.com/nutkids to donate.

Nutcracker Kids Campaign Chair, Julie Rust Personal Real Estate Corporation, said it’s more
important than ever to help those in need this holiday season:

As a community member and a realtor at Newport Realty, one of the things that I feel strongly about is supporting the arts in Victoria. Because we can’t get together at the Royal Theatre this year, Dance Victoria is bringing Nutcracker to you, creating an incredible opportunity to bring this presentation to even more children and their families in 2020. I hope you will join us.

Julie Rust

Shumka’s Nutcracker blends the grace and lyricism of classical ballet with the strength of Ukrainian character dance in a celebration of Tchaikovsky’s beloved score. Choreographed by Viktor Lytvynov, this production features principal artists from the Kyiv Ballet of the National Opera of Ukraine, singers in Clara’s Dream Choir, and young dancers from the Shumka School of Dance as part of the Children’s Ensemble. Lavish sets and costumes are designed by National Opera of Ukraine’s Maria Levitska.

See Full Media Release here.