Alaska News

Photos: Rehearsing for the Nutcracker

On a gloomy Saturday earlier this month, at an hour when many Anchorage kids were satisfied to kick back at home, some of their peers were hard at work in the studios of Alaska Dance Theatre. They strutted, jumped, ran and mimed through the party scene from Act 1 of "The Nutcracker," preparing for the annual performances of Tchaikovsky's ballet in Atwood Concert Hall.

Each year the Anchorage Concert Association presents productions by national ballet troupes, who supply sets, choreography and professional dancers for major roles. These shows tend to tour during the lead-up to Christmas. The Eugene production, returning to Anchorage after three years, will be seen with different performers in 15 cities in five states. It has two sizes of sets to fit diverse venues; the big Atwood stage uses the larger of the two.

There are lots of parts for dancers in training. "The kids are not a small part of the show," said ADT instructor Sari Phillips. "They're a huge part."

Read more: For many young ballet dancers, the annual 'Nutcracker' is a rite of passage

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