‘Great Russian Nutcracker’ will include local dancers

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Moscow Ballet’s annual Christmas-season tour of “The Nutcracker” will return to the Mahoning Valley on Saturday for a 7 p.m. performance at Powers Auditorium.

The professional troupe will use 48 dance students from the Valley in its production.

The Moscow Ballet is in its 24th consecutive year of touring North America to perform “The Great Russian Nutcracker.” The current tour features principal dancers Ekaterina Alaeva and Kostyantyn Vinovoy, and includes a 60-foot growing Christmas tree and spectacular costumes and sets.

Ruth’s Dance and Fitness of Boardman was chosen as the host studio to prepare the local students, who range in age from 6 to 17, for the performance.

Ruth Smrek Balestra, artistic director, and Kaitlyn Fabian, assistant artistic director, of Ruth’s Dance and Fitness have been rehearsing the choreography with the children since August.

The young dancers had to pass an audition for Moscow Ballet directors. They will be used in the roles of children at the party, mice, snowflakes, snow sprites, snow maidens and junior dancers in Act II’s Variations.

The experience of being fitted in Moscow Ballet costumes, rehearsing on the stage with the Russian professionals, and performing for a live audience is a unique experience for the children. The Moscow Ballet selects children to dance in the show at every city in which it performs.

The local student dancers are:

Party guests: Natalee Balestra, Judah Leonard, Dominique Walko, Nautica Randall, Anna Joy, Lindsay Volenik , Erin Morell, Elliana Volpini, Ayla Bundy, Abigail Mihok, Emma Purton Natalie Purton.

Mice: Morgan Rapp, Lynn Fair, Alexandra Fernandez, Luna Niles, Gianna Paris, Alexandra Bosca , Morganne Evans, Emma Chunn and Thomas Terziu.

Snowflakes: Kaylee Trolio, Angelina Folsom, Gianna Lucarell, Reagan Ridgley, Hailey Singleton, Nayla Gilyard and Addison Sandino.

Snow maidens: Alexis Mihok, Azahrya Jones, Chloe Klotz, Natalie Freed, Kelly Peplowski, Lauren Engle, Gabriella Arquilla and Carter Shope.

Snow sprites: Erin Morell, Anna Joy, Sabrina Frank and Zoe Frank.

Spanish Variation: Lindsay Volinek, Natalee Balestra, Annalese Samuel and Kaitlynn Kurdziel.

French Variation: Kaylee Trolio and Angelina Folsom.

Chinese Variation: Abigail Mihok, Dominique Walko, Breeze Stec and Callia Barwick.

Arabian Variation: Chloe Mershimer and McCallen Warrick.

Russian Variation: Eliana Volpini, Ayla Bundy, Lauren Engle and Natalee Freed.

Ruth’s Dance and Fitness Company specializes in training students in the artistry of classical ballet, and then integrating ballet technique into all the forms of dance that are seen on the stage at the annual productions.