Nutcracker Program | seymourdance

Welcome!

We acknowledge that we are on the səlilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) First Nation's ancestral and unceded territory and we are grateful for their hospitality.

We wouldn’t be who we are without you - Thank you for making our Nutcracker one of the ways you celebrate the holiday season! If you were a part of our many fundraisers this fall, you helped us bring two brand-new, hand-painted backdrops to the stage, so thank you! May your holiday celebrations sparkle with precious moments of laughter, love, and goodwill.

Sincerely Yours,

The Staff & Faculty of Seymour Dance

A Special Production Note from the Artistic Director

Hello, and welcome to our Holiday tradition, the Nutcracker! I am so excited to welcome you all into the theatre. Whether this is your first time seeing the show, or the 50th, we are so grateful you are here. This show holds a special place in my heart, as I believe it honours tradition, with some iconic choreography from over 30 years ago, but also allows space for innovation, creativity and new ideas each year! There are new costumes, props, and more sprinkled in each season, and behind all that are many amazing people creating them. As always, thank you to everyone that helped bring this years show together. From the dancers, faculty, volunteers, prop makers and more, this show now has over 250 people involved. Another big thanks to Centennial Theatre and its team, as we appreciate everyone here so much and consider them part of our SD Family!

I hope you enjoy our show and I wish you all a happy holiday season ahead!

With Love,

Lauren

Young Clara is reveling in a holiday party being thrown by her parents. The party goes quiet when her eccentric Uncle Drosselmeyer, who owns a doll shop in town, makes an unexpected appearance and brings with him his latest works. Amongst his newest toys is the Nutcracker, which he gifts to Clara. Clara falls in love with her new toy, but it isn't long before her jealous brother Fritz steals him and damages the doll through rough play. Clara is heartbroken and as the party fades away, she falls asleep in the parlor room next to her broken Nutcracker.

When the clock strikes midnight, Drosselmeyer creates a magical dream world complete with a life-size Nutcracker! Clara wakes to the house mice's mischief and finds herself being chased by the Mouse King, but out of the dark comes toy soldiers and their fierce leader the Nutcracker! The Mouse King and Nutcracker battle for Clara and although the Nutcracker wins the battle, he is seriously injured. However, Drosselmeyer still has a few tricks up his sleeve and before long they are off into the snowy night towards an enchanted land!

Clara and the Nutcracker are guided to an enchanted land which contains a glorious castle, filled to the brim with fairies and sweets! Clara is delighted as the entire kingdom puts on a show just for her and the Nutcracker, which includes Gingerbreads, Spanish chocolates, Flowers that waltz and even the iconic Sugar Plum Fairy! However, as the night comes to a close, it is time for the court of the Sugar Plum Fairy's castle to say goodbye to Clara. Clara soon awakes and finds her Nutcracker that she received from her Uncle Drosselmeyer in pristine condition, and she wonders if it were all a dream.

Notes from Production

The Tale

Thank you to our Season Sponsors!

Special Guests

Tyler Carver as The Nutcracker Prince

Tyler Carver began training at the age of 12 at the Goh Ballet Academy in Vancouver, BC, where he completed his RAD Advanced 2 exam with distinction. He completed a year of training at San Francisco Ballet School and then joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet as an Apprentice in 2014, was then promoted into the Corps de Ballet. Carver has had the opportunity to perform in such works as Giselle, Nutcracker(as the Nutcracker Prince), Going Home Star - Truth and Reconciliation, Swan Lake(as Spanish and Pas de Trois), Sleeping Beauty(as Blue Bird),Dracula(as Jonathan Harker) and many others.

Giovanni Giordanno as The Snow King Thursday, Nov 30th Shows

In the U.S. he has been awarded for an “outstanding performance” at “VIBE USA” in 2017. He has worked with the “Goh Ballet Youth Company” (Vancouver), performing main roles such as Arabian, Spanish and Nutcracker Prince in the production of the “Goh Ballet's The Nutcracker." In 2018 after being awarded at the “Surrey Festival of Dance” (BC) in both categories “Contemporary duet” (1st place) and "Classical Pas De Deux" (1st Place), he performed in the World Premiere of “Cinderella” in Vancouver, choreographed by Maina Gielgud. He has collaborated with local artists in Italy, taking part in summer events like “Meet Matilde Neruda” and “Zorba the Greek” in open-space theatres. In 2019 he also started working with BalletBloch, partnering in performances like the Nutcracker and Swan Lake. In 2022 he performed with Coastal City Ballet for their Cinderella.

Reid Colton the as Snow King Saturday Dec 2nd Shows

Reid began training with Philip Fuller in Los Angeles at the age of 8. He received a scholarship to the Post Secondary Program of Canada’s National Ballet School. Upon graduating from the Post-Secondary Dance Program Reid joined Ballet West in Salt Lake City, and performed ballets such as “Giselle”, “Sleeping Beauty”, and Balanchine’s “Stars and Stripes”. In 2008, Reid joined The Orlando Ballet and danced roles in Fernando Bujones’ “Don Quixote”, “Bolero”, and Robert Hill’s “Le Corsaire”.

Jacob Phan as Uncle Drosselmeyer

Raised in Maple Ridge, BC, Jakob started dancing at Peggy Peat's School of Dance at the age of 7 in various styles of dance. After graduation, Jakob trained for two years with The Source Dance Company and is working his way into the dance industry.

Cast A

Clara: Adelina Scurtescu

Nutcracker: Tyler Carver

Drosselmeyer: Jakob Phan

Clara's Mom: Izia Kustner

Clara's Friends:

Avery Miraftab, Adelaide Starr, Sienna Long, Emerson Smiers

Fritz: Beatrice Westerholz

City Sweepers: Kyla Falandysz, Sonya Melnikoff, Kayla Mahoney

Children:

Amanda Field, Aveline Michasiw, Chloe Ho, Chloe Funston, Hannah Blair, Madison Hannan, Naiara Brauer, Romy Willis

Ladies:

Alexa Budd, Elisa Gibbons, Emma Bujan, Erin Ball, Eva Stoelting, Kate Milton, Khalissa Bonduau, Kiana Ryan, Olivia Hardman, Rose Leishman

Gentlemen:

Aqil Zaman, Devon Khotar, Dylan Patterson, Elias Habert Clark, Hayden Gibbons, Hayden Verador, James Cameron Garcia, JJ Artiga, Miller Stoelting, Qyle Merali, Sumner Dang

Maids:

Emma Gouding, Jerika Mulder, Maddy Geiger, Molly James, Ruby Townsend, Samantha Scott, Sasha Ledger, Sawyer Haibeck, Sienna Gormley, Simone Hunter-Poburko, Stella Lus

Pasha Doll: Ella Lake

Rag Doll: Kyla Falandysz

Mechanical Doll: Kenley Guiton

Mouse King: Natalie Dalzell

Mice:

Abigail Toews, Alexa Budd, Natalie Dalzell, Bronte Guiton, Elisa Gibbons, Ella Durward, Emma Bujan, Erin Ball, Adelina Scurtescu, Eva Stoelting, Isla Brace, Izia Kustner, Anna Klaassen, Jada Falandysz, Kate Milton, Khalissa Bonduau, Kiana Ryan, Lia Schneeweiss, Olivia Hardman, Sadie Purcell, Tatiana Elsworth, Vivianne Tan

Mini Mice:

Alice Fee, Cayley Barnes, Grace Dungait

Soldiers:

Abby Bowler, Adelaide Starr, Alexandra Lee, Avery Stegemann, Chloe Goulding, Elaine Huang, Ella Lake, Emerson Smiers, Isobel Sarin, Jacquieline Phillips, Kayla Mahoney, Kenley Guiton, Kyla Falandysz, Maya Doerkson, Nicole Lisitski, Olivia Graham, Sienna Long, Soiyer Hale, Sonya Melnikoff

Mini Soldiers:

Audrey Barber, Bree Kalnin, Chloe Whiteside, Dylan Tamplin, Roya McRobie

Snow Queen: Bronte Guiton

Snow King: Giovanni Giordano/Reid Colton

Snow Corps:

Anna Klaassen, Bronte Guiton, Ella Durward, Eva Stoelting, Kate Milton, Khalissa Bonduau, Kiana Ryan, Lia Schneeweiss, Miaka Ryan, Olivia Hardman, Rose Leishman, Tatiana Elsworth, Vivianne Tan

Snow Flakes:

Alexandra Coleman, Arianna Reid, Ellie Takel, Everly Yang, Henley Showers, Olivia Hanemaayer, Ryen Kinnoch, Téa Febbraio

Fairy of Light: Rose Leishman

Lantern Bearers:

Avery Miraftab, Alexa Budd, Ella Lake, Emma Bujan, Isla Brace, Izia Kustner, Kayla Mahoney, Kenley Guiton, Jada Falandysz, Natalie Dalzell

Cotton Candy Fairies:

Annie Barber, Avery Lam, Catherine Murray, Esme Van Heerden, Gia Febbraio,

Gray Rossiter, Harlie Kinnoch, Livia Febbraio, Naomi Coleman, Summer Green

Sugar Plum Fairy: Kiana Ryan

Spanish Chocolate Lead: Vivianne Tan

Spanish Chocolate Corps:

Anna Klaassen, Erin Ball, Lia Schneeweiss, Tatiana Elsworth

Mirlitons: Isla Brace, Miaka Ryan

Peppermint Patties:

Amara Huff, Amelia Jarvis, Arabella Vasilescu, Lydia Fee

Arabian Coffee Lead: Eva Stoelting

Arabian Coffee:

Alexa Revell, Amara Jauernig-Vogt, Beatrice Westerholz, Birdie Bentley, Emma Nguyen, Giovanna Viana, Holly Dyck, Imaan Hirji, Lily Oruc-Yilmaz, Madison Reichert, Natalie Harrison, Rachel Wong, Valentina Tse

Mother Ginger: Jessica Heaven

Mother Ginger Bakers: Avery Stegemann, Jacqueline Phillips

Gingerbread:

Anna McNulty, Ava Behaein, Emma Blair, Isla Kalnin, Madison Baker, Maricela Murray, Mila-Angela Afonso, Presley Thompson, Saybrie Crouch, Victoria Reynolds

Chinese Tea: Elaine Huang, Nicole Lisitski

Matryoshka Dolls:

Aria Sarin, Cece Lukat, Ellery Goddard, Emma Bowler, Evita Zeppelin-Wright, Karry Huang, Maleah Jauernig-Vogt, Mila Crema, Saya Olsen, Tiantian Liu

Dew Drop Fairy: Olivia Hardman

Waltz of The Flowers:

Jada Falandysz, Kenley Guiton, Khalissa Bonduau, Kiana Ryan, Miaka Ryan, Natalie Dalzell, Abigail Toews, Bronte Guiton, Isla Brace, Kayla Mahoney, Rose Leishman, Olivia Hardman, Alexa Budd, Anna Klaassen, Avery Miraftab, Ella Durward, Kate Milton, Vivianne Tan, Elisa Gibbons, Emma Bujan, Adelina Scurtescu, Eva Stoelting, Izia Kustner, Sadie Purcell

Choreographers:

Lauren Overholt, Sam Ball, Nicola Earl, Sophie Grover, Jenna Williamson, Paige Vassos, Nicole Narwal, Megan Mitchell, Tyler Carver, Arianna Elsworth, Sonia Ellis

Costume & Prop Team:

Melissa Haibeck, Miki Shoji, Laura Morrison, Teyvn Pacey, Damon Stoelting, Grant McDonald, Marissa Heaven, Katie Gillett, Jessica Heaven, Marcus Westerholz

As always, this show is in loving memory of our Late Artistic Director, Sonia Ellis

Cast B

Clara: Erin Ball

Nutcracker: Tyler Carver

Drosselmeyer: Jakob Phan

Clara's Mom: Anna Klaassen

Clara's Friends:

Avery Miraftab, Adelaide Starr, Sienna Long, Emerson Smiers

Fritz: Paityn Irvine-Naylor

City Sweepers: Ella Lake, Kenley Guiton, Abigail Bowler

Children:

Caitlin Kwok, Estelle White, Evynn Weston, Hazel Newman, Kayla Naisby, Sienna Kirkpatrick, Sofia Tsiknis, Willa

Best

Ladies:

Adelina Scurtescu, Alexa Budd, Elisa Gibbons, Emma Bujan, Eva Stoelting, Kate Milton, Khalissa Bonduau, Kiana Ryan, Olivia Hardman, Rose Leishman

Gentlemen:

Aqil Zaman, Devon Khotar, Dylan Patterson, Elias Habert Clark, Hayden Gibbons, Hayden Verador, James Cameron Garcia, JJ Artiga, Miller Stoelting, Qyle Merali, Sumner Dang

Maids:

Emma Goulding, Jerika Mulder, Maddy Geiger, Molly James, Ruby Townsend, Samantha Scott, Sasha Ledger, Sawyer Haibeck, Sienna Gormley, Simone Hunter-Poburko, Stella Lus

Pasha Doll: Kayla Mahoney

Rag Doll: Abigail Bowler

Mechanical Doll: Sonya Melnikoff

Mouse King: Alexa Budd

Mice:

Abigail Toews, Alexa Budd, Natalie Dalzell, Bronte Guiton, Elisa Gibbons, Ella Durward, Emma Bujan, Erin Ball, Adelina Scurtescu, Eva Stoelting, Isla Brace, Izia Kustner, Anna Klaassen, Jada Falandysz, Kate Milton, Khalissa Bonduau, Kiana Ryan, Lia Schneeweiss, Olivia Hardman, Sadie Purcell, Tatiana Elsworth, Vivianne Tan

Mini Mice:

Anna Thompson, Elizabeth Zhu, Kayla Anton, Mya Lowrie, Nash Niceforo, Rosie Burke, Vera Watts

Soldiers:

Abby Bowler, Adelaide Starr, Alexandra Lee, Avery Stegemann, Chloe Goulding, Elaine Huang, Ella Lake, Emerson Smiers, Isobel Sarin, Jacquieline Phillips, Kayla Mahoney, Kenley Guiton, Kyla Falandysz, Maya Doerkson, Nicole Lisitski, Olivia Graham, Sienna Long, Soiyer Hale, Sonya Melnikoff

Mini Soldiers:

Isla Bowman, Malina Orellana, Marley Evans, Olivia Parfitt

Snow Queen: Kate Milton

King: Giovanni Giordano/ Reid Colton

Snow Corps:

Anna Klaassen, Bronte Guiton, Ella Durward, Eva Stoelting, Kate Milton, Khalissa Bonduau, Kiana Ryan, Lia Schneeweiss, Miaka Ryan, Olivia Hardman, Rose Leishman, Tatiana Elsworth, Vivianne Tan

Snow Flakes:

Adara Artus, Cataleya Sharpe, Flora McLeod, Kaia McIntosh, Mia Johnson, Mackenzie Sutherland, Rose McWhinnie

Fairy of Light: Elisa Gibbons

Lantern Bearers:

Avery Miraftab, Alexa Budd, Ella Lake, Emma Bujan, Isla Brace, Izia Kustner, Kayla Mahoney, Kenley Guiton, Jada Falandysz, Natalie Dalzell

Cotton Candy Fairies:

Anna Scheske, Avery Jameson, Chloe Lawrence, Gabrielle Kirkpatrick, Hallie

Pockett, Hanalei Hackman, Jasper Cormack, Mila Burscough, Rosie O'Mahony, Parker Paradis

Sugar Plum Fairy: Lia Schneeweiss

Spanish Chocolate Lead: Khalissa Bonduau

Spanish Chocolate Corps:

Adelina Scurtescu, Anna Klaassen, Kate Milton, Kiana Ryan

Mirlitons: Abby Toews, Jada Falandysz

Peppermint Patties:

Ellie Ko, Eva Melnikoff, Isla Fisher, Mia Parkins

Arabian Coffee Lead: Sadie Purcell

Arabian Coffee:

Afra Akhlaghi, Amelia Parkinson, Aria Song, Charlotte Lee, Ella Skinner-Stockdale, Elvie Barazzuol, Emily Stenz, Emmy Leslie, Madeline Fullerton, Paityn Irvine-Naylor, Sasha Mayer, Violet Coats, Lola Melnikoff

Mother Ginger: Jessica Heaven

Mother Ginger Bakers: Olivia Graham, Soiyer Hale