Columbia City Ballet and The Nutcracker
We wanted to share one of the annual highlights of our Christmas season…
The Nutcracker is a timeless tradition beautifully carried on through the Columbia City Ballet in which this company (artistically directed by the highly acclaimed William Starrett) just celebrated their 50th year anniversary performance of The Nutcracker. A Broadway-like production of the Christmas classic! This is Columbias Koger Center for the Arts longest running production and boasts a full professional cast, set, costumes and choreography!
We began our afternoon at a Nutcracker Tea, hosted in a grand ballroom at the Koger Center where attendees are treated to a lavish spread of cakes, cookies, spreads and cheeses.
Tiny tea cakes and cheese straws, cupcakes and gingerbread, fruit and finger sandwiches, and hot tea, punch and beverage options. Tables are laid with assorted mis-matched porcelain tea cups lending to fun conversations and showing off chosen cups and varied vintages.
Young attendees learn to “take tea” like little ladies! From the youngest tiny dancers, to the moms and grandmothers, this is a girls day out no one will soon forget! You cant imagine the fun my sister Katherine and I had spending the afternoon with my 5 girls all glitzed and glammed up for high tea and a ballet!!
Chair covers, real linen table cloths, color themed tables and bedazzled centerpieces made for a classy celebration and set the tone for a spectacular afternoon.
Gigi was wide eyed as pageant girls in their stiletto heels and sparkly tiaras waited graciously on our tables and hosted us attentively.
And when principal dancers made appearances to sign autographs, the girls were in awe!! Gigi and Evie made rounds getting signatures from the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Snow Queen and other Nutcracker starlets. Company dancers patiently answered their inquisitive notions such as “do pointe shoes hurt?” and “are those your real curls?” The Columbia City Ballet teas (of which there are more to come!) provide attendees with a “backstage pass” experience in which the veil is lifted and young girls get a peek into the beauty and dedication of meeting real-life-dancers!
As tea concluded, we made our way to the theatre to find our seats. Ive seen the Columbia City Ballet Nutcracker performance many years and it never disappoints!! But this year, their 50th anniversary celebration, was exceptional! A real live unicorn stole the show and fresh creativity abounded with set, staging and choreography. We feasted our eyes on the the sweet soiree as dancers retold the timeless story. Spanish chocolate, Arabian coffee, Chinese tea, candy canes, gingersnaps, Neapolitan ice cream, and of course the Sugar Plum Fairy performed by the talented and illustrious Regina Willoughby who takes the stage this year for her final performances before retirement as a legend!
The Columbia City Ballet thrives on the hard work and dedication not only of its talented dancers, cast and directors, but also from the unparalleled devotion of its volunteers. Looking for a way to invest yourself in 2018? Consider becoming a volunteer and supporting the arts through giving time to the Columbia City Ballet!! The company boasts a full performance schedule for the 2018 calendar year.
Upcoming performances:
Information about Midsummer’s Night Dream
Information about Bod & Movement Explored
Information about Cleopatra
Information about Off the Wall
***There is a similar FAIRY TEA coming up on January 27th at 1:30 pm in collaboration with A Midsummer Nights Dream ballet performance!! Book your tickets now for another unforgettable mother-daughter girls-day-out!
Contact Katie Watson with questions: 803-397-1156
Or order tickets to the performance and request a setting at the tea HERE.***
