Thirteen-year-old Cochrane ballet dancer Aubrie Shapkin has received a coveted role in the upcoming production of the prestigious Jeunesse Classique Ballet Society (JCBS) production of the holiday classic The Nutcracker.
Thirteen-year-old Cochrane ballet dancer Aubrie Shapkin has received a coveted role in the upcoming production of the prestigious Jeunesse Classique Ballet Society (JCBS) production of the holiday classic The Nutcracker.
The show will take the stage from Dec. 8 to 10 at the University of Calgary Theatre.
This will be the 30th anniversary of the production, in which close to 40 people from all across Alberta auditioned for the role Shapkin received.
Shapkin, who has worked under the direction of Jodi Aasen at Eurhythmics Dance Studio for the past 10 years, will continue to dance in Cochrane in addition to her rehearsals and performances with The Nutcracker in order to prepare for the production.
Shapkin says she believes auditioning for and receiving the role in The Nutcracker will open doors to other opportunities in her dance career.
“I was curious about doing ballet with a company and I wanted to experience auditioning for a big show, ” Shapkin said.
“I have always loved the Nutcracker and now I get to be a part of it. ”
The Nutcracker, a classic Christmas story, is a classical ballet in two acts centered on a family's Christmas Eve celebration. It is based on E.T.A. Hoffmann's 1816 fairytale The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.
It tells the story of a little girl named Clara, who receives a nutcracker doll from her godfather. Once the Christmas Eve party is over, Clara goes to check on her nutcracker to see if he is resting quietly. All of a sudden, mice start running about the room, the dolls, the tin soldiers and all the other playthings come to life to fight the mice and the Mouse King. The Nutcracker becomes a human prince, and Clara and the Nutcracker set off through the snowy woods in search of the magical Land of Sweets ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Along with the Calgary show, JCBS will also have a major performance in Edmonton Nov. 24 to 26, and has been on tour to Banff, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat.
Tickets are available at www.jcbs.ca and prices are $49.00 for adults, and $39.00 for youth, students and seniors.
