Kirsten Evans

Alex Lantz

JAMESTOWN — The Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet announces their Guest Artists for the upcoming Nutcracker Ballet. Kirsten Evans and Alex Lantz from Festival Ballet Providence will dance the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. The performances are Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. at the Reg Lenna Center For The Arts. Tickets are now on sale.

Alex Lantz began his dance training at age seven at the Rockford Dance Company in his home town of Rockford, Illinois, and was accepted into the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Professional Division in 2006.

Lantz joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet company as an apprentice in 2010. He performed with the company in Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Moulin Rouge – The Ballet, Dracula, Wonderland, The Ecstasy of Rita Joe, Svengali, Giselle.

Lantz also joined the company in 2010 on a three-city tour of Israel part of the RWB’s 70th Anniversary tour.

Lantz joined Festival Ballet Providence in 2012 and has performed the roles of Spanish, Snow King and Sugar Plum Cavalier in The Nutcracker, and has also been featured in Dominick Walsh’s Afternoon of the Faun, Ilya Kozadayev’s Moonlight Pas De Deux, and leading roles in Victor Plotnikovs Orchis, and Coma as well as principal roles in George Balanchines Agon and Tchaikovzky Pas de deux.

Originally from Massa-chusetts,  Evans began training in the FBP School at age 11. She performed as a member of FBP’s Junior Company for five years before joining the main company as a trainee in 2010. Evans has attended summer intensives with Bolshoi Ballet Academy, The Nutmeg Conservatory, and was a member of the Jacob’s Pillow Summer Dance Festival in 2009.

Evans was a two-time finalist in the Youth American Grand Prix Ballet Competition in New York City, where she was awarded several scholarships as well as a traineeship with Ballet West in Utah. Previous roles with FBP include Wendy in Jorden Morris’ Peter Pan, pas de trois, Big Swans, and Cygnets in Swan Lake, Princess Tsarevna in The Firebird, the roles of Sugarplum Fairy, Clara, Spanish and Marzipan in The Nutcracker, and principle in Etudes, as well as principal roles in George Balanchine’s Apollo, Agon, and Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux. Evans has also been featured in contemporary works by Viktor Plotnikov, Dominic Walsh, Ilya Kozadayev, Joseph Morrissey, and others.

CRYB’s Nutcracker has become a holiday tradition for many families and this year’s production promises magic, excitement and inspiring performances for everyone. The Nutcracker tells the classic story of Clara who falls into a deep, dreamy sleep after an exciting holiday party at which Herr Drosselmeyer presents her with a gift of a nutcracker. As she dreams, Clara embarks on a fantasy journey with her nutcracker prince beginning with an exciting battle with the Rat King and his army of mice followed by a visit to the magical Kingdom of Sweets. There, they meet the Sugar Plum Fairy and her court of sweets who perform their favorite dances in Clara’s honor. It’s a wonderful celebration that ends with the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier performing a beautiful and exciting pas-de-deux.

Artistic director Monika Alch notes that in addition to the treat of seeing Evans and Lantz dance, the audience will also be impressed by the caliber of performance presented by CRYB ballet students. The role of Clara will be performed by CRYB dancer Cecelia Johnson. Solos such as the Dew Drop Fairy, the Snow Queen and Arabian will be performed by CRYB advanced students, and almost 70 other cast members including both CRYB students and community members will round out the cast.

Ticket prices for the Nutcracker are $30 for loge seating; $25 for adults; $12 for children. Tickets may be reserved by calling the Reg Lenna Center For The Arts Box Office at 484-7070. A special patron package is also available on opening night which includes two tickets to the performance and an invitation to a Pre-Show champagne reception with hors d’oeuvres and a signature cocktail by Nick Dean. Cost is $150 and may be purchased through the CRYB studio at 664-9766. In addition to the public performances, CRYB will also present a performance for area schools on Friday morning – schools interested in attending should contact the Reg Lenna Box Office.