sors a thank you letter,” said Shaw. “It’s a very
comprehensive and holistic approach.”
Knox’s leaders are excited to continue into
the future.
George Balanchine founded the New York
City Ballet in 1948, and created his take on
The Nutcracker to show off what his dancers
could do. Choreography, sets and costumes
are meticulously designed. The Balanchine
Trust, which licenses the show, is just as exacting, insisting that troupes perform the
play to precise specifications.
“We watch the children leave every year; I remember a little boy looked at me, spread his
arms out and said, ‘I loved it all!’” said Shaw.
“It becomes a life changing experience for
them.”
“If you’ve got a dress with sequins, they even
tell you how many sequins to have,” said Davis.
Only eight companies in North America are
licensed for Balanchine’s Nutcracker, including the Alabama Ballet, who perform at Knox
every year. The ballet’s strict requirements
make it a perfect choice for introducing children to the arts, according to Patricia Smith,
executive director of Knox Concerts.
The Knox Concert Series presentation of The
Nutcracker is Dec. 6 from 2-4 PM at the Anniston Performing Arts Center at 13th and Woodstock Avenue. Tickets are $12 for children, $20
for adults and $30 for reserved seating. Tickets to the Sugar Plum Magic Moment are $25
and quantities are limited. Call 256-832-4554
or visit knoxconcertseries.org for tickets. Free
third grader performance information will be
available from your child’s school. ✻
“We say if they’re coming to the ballet, let’s
show them ballet,” said Smith.
In addition to the ballet, audiences at the
Dec. 6 show will be able to purchase souvenirs from the Nutcracker Boutique, fresh cut
flowers from the Flower Shoppe and take
home treats from Mother Ginger’s Boutique
and Bake Sale. For an even more in-depth
experience, parents can buy their kids tickets to the Sugar Plum Magic Moment, an
after-ballet meeting with the characters, a
tour of the stage and snow-fall, souvenirs
and a photo with a cast member.
Kids leave the Nutcracker experience at
least a little changed, with horizons broadened and a chance to grow up loving the
arts planted or reinforced, something all of
INSIGHT
November 2015 19