Salisbury Symphony, Piedmont Dance to present ‘The Nutcracker’

Published 12:00 am Friday, November 3, 2017

SALISBURY — The Salisbury Symphony and Piedmont Dance Theatre will once again bring Tchaikovsky’s iconic ballet “The Nutcracker” to Keppel Auditorium in December.

The much-loved holiday ballet continues to break box-office records for Keppel, reaching 100 percent capacity for three years running. This season’s performances will be held at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 16 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 17.

The collaboration is now in its 15th year and features a new cast from Piedmont Dance Theatre’s troupe. It’s also a revised production as conceived by Marius Petipa.

“The Nutcracker” will be choreographed by American Ballet Theatre alumna and internationally acclaimed dance star Rebecca Wiley and Juilliard-trained Daniel Wiley, named by Charlotte Magazine as the city’s “Best Male Dancer.”

To celebrate its 15th anniversary, this year’s production of “The Nutcracker” will showcase guest dancers Kathleen Breen Combes, performing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Yury Yanowsky as the Cavalier.

Combes, a principal dancer for 15 years with the Boston Ballet, has been hailed by The New York Times as a “ballerina of colossal scale and boldness.” Yanowsky, a 22-year veteran of the Boston Ballet, has danced many lead roles with the company and is an award-winning choreographer.

Piedmont Dance Theatre has earned a reputation across the state for its high-level of training, with soloists from recent “Nutcracker” productions now performing with the Boston Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Hubbard Street and Cincinnati Ballet.

Music Director David Hagy will lead the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra.

Seating is reserved. The online ticket outlet allows for seat selection. Book at www.piedmonstdancetheatre.com.