The world’s best-loved ballet “The Nutcracker” revolves around a magical Christmas gift that changes little Clara’s life forever. In that spirit, the prestigious José Mateo Ballet Theatre (JMBT) is surprising the Dorchester community with an early Christmas present: news that the company plans to offer regular ballet classes on Jones Hill next year. Starting on Jan. 24, the company will offer six pilot classes for children aged three to six in a converted space in St. Mary’s Episcopal Church.
The visit to the Strand (Dec.19-21) is the final stop on JMBT’s 27th annual tour of “The Nutcracker” to three greater Boston locations – Duxbury, Harvard Square, and Uphams Corner.
Choreographed by JMBT Artistic Director Mateo to Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score, “The Nutcracker” brings Clara’s dream world to life with festive sets, sumptuous costumes, and spectacular dancing. Four young dancers are rotating in the role of Clara in all three venues: Their names suggest the ethnic diversity of the whole cast: Amy Chan, Safiyya O’Connor, Samin Charepoo, and Cecelia Zevallos.
More than 200 children ages 6-18 join Ballet Theatre’s skilled company dancers as Party Children, Mice, Soldiers, Polichinelles, Cherubs, and Angels. JMBT claims it’s the only professional “Nutcracker” production in the area to hold open auditions outside of its own school.
Mattapan dancers in this year’s production include Timia Jones, Yua Germain, and Yaziely Matos.
The 18 Dot residents in the cast are Aminah Hunt, Shamari Banks, Roberta Owens-Pearl, Jasmine Hasan, Labraya Drayton, Lanay Drayton, Woolsey Chesterman, Clementine Chesterman, Johnny Del Jesus, Layla McLean, Ynez Corea, Gizelle Aponte, Cameron Smith, Jayla Pina, Juliana Alisa Grace-Jones, Taylor Emerson, Kizziyah Caliste, and Shekilah Ashby.
Thanks to the Fairmont Cultural Corridor and ArtsPlace America, more than 50 social service agencies are receiving complimentary “Nutcracker” tickets for a total of 3,500 free admissions. Dorchester agencies include Blue Hill Boys & Girls Club, Dorchester House Multi-Service Center, Kit Clark Senior Center, Up Academy, Sportsmen’s Tennis and Enrichment Center, Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation, Uphams Corner Health Center, and Bridge Boston Charter School.
In addition to the public shows at the Strand there will be special 10 a.m. school performances on Dec. 17, 18, and 19. Among the public and private schools that will be sending classes to the Strand are the Martin Luther King School, Mildred Avenue K-8 School, Codman Academy, Saint John Paul II Catholic Academy, McCormack School, and Dorchester Collegiate Academy Charter School.
Doubtless, many of the youngsters at these performances will be inspired to get up on the stage next season, and the planned classes on Jones Hill are a pas in the right direction.
According to an internal JMBT report: “We have confirmed partnerships with the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI) and St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. Reverend Edwin Johnson and the St. Mary’s Board are enthusiastic about supporting a partnership with JMBT for the foreseeable future.”
Nine families have already pre-registered for pilot classes in the New Year. Four are from Dorchester, three from Roxbury, and one each from South Boston and East Boston. Families enrolling through DSNI will pay a subsidized rate of only $5 per class.The JMBT report further explains, “The 2015-16 school years will be the first full year of the Young Dancers Program in Dorchester, adding Ballet Level I; each year thereafter, another training level will be added. Through this initiative, Ballet Theatre strives to bring the many benefits of ballet training, including physical activity, understanding of music and rhythm, and school-preparedness, to an under-served and under-resourced community.”
