DANCE COMPANIES "&" MERIT
END OF THE YEAR GIVING

By Nancy Condit

Oklahoma City is lucky enough to have four professional dance companies -- all presenting worthy levels of dance, and all deserving end of the year donations. There is one other organization worth considering, the Infant Crisis Center. For those who have little or no discretionary funds, check free venues including the May Festival of the Arts, the downtown noon performances, library performances. For those who would like to participate, there is volunteering.

These four companies have made Oklahoma City dance important enough for a state wide magazine -- AAA's Home and Away -- to cover it in its Nov/Dec. issue, http://www.homeandawaymagazine.com/content.cfm?a=3366, written by this author.

Their dance styles are as varied as their performance spaces: the Civic Center -- OKC Ballet, an intimate downtown studio space -- The Hartel Dance Group, college stages -- Perpetual Motion dance Company, and RACE -- at venues ranging from the Old Farmers Market to a high school auditorium.

The Hartel Dance Group is a dance theater production company focused on developing dramatic forms of physical expression and expanding the dance audience. For the Hartel Dance Group, go to http://www.harteldancegroup.org/Support.html.

The Oklahoma City Ballet company focuses on all forms of ballet, from classical to contemporary.
They can be reached online at http://www.okcballet.com/support.html and clicking on the Support tab.

The modern and aerial dance troupe Perpetual Motion modern Dance Company can be reached at
http://perpetualmotiondance.org/page7/support.html.

RACE Dance Company is the only professional jazz dance company in Oklahoma, and recently presented "A Hip-Hop Nutcracker." The company is "bringing about social awareness and change through dance performances and dance education." To donate, go to
http://danceclassesoklahomacity.com/donate/. This page is current for donations.

Infant Crisis Services provides formula, food, diapers and clothes to at-risk infants and toddlers during the first 48 months of life. While their online website, http://www.infantcrisis.org/ -- click on Support.

"MISS BROWN TO YOU"
PERFORMS AT OPENING
NIGHT 7-9 PM AT
BANK OF OKLAHOMA

By Nancy Condit

After rousing Christmas performances last Saturday by "Mary Reynolds and the Sisters of Swing" as a benefit for the Guild of St. George Food Pantry, Mary Reynolds wrote the above addition to the print list of Opening Night performers. "Miss Brown" is a jazz-folk duo.

She added that they will also be performing "Saturday night, January 5th, we'll be at Full Circle - 7:30 to 9:30.  Friday the 11th: UCO Jazz Lab, with Armando & Roger.  Saturday the 19th: Gypsy Cafe Night," which this writer believes is a fund raiser for the Social Justice Committee of the Unitarian Church, and will be held there, with dancing for all and open to all.

Let me take this opportunity to thank everyone for your support in 2012, and wish you a Good Year in 2013!

love,

mary

Click on the link for an oldie but a goodie.

E.CO EXHIBIT ON
THE ENVIRONMENT
CONTINUES AT
[ARTSPACE] AT
UNTITLED

Photo provided

On October 26, Untitled premiered the very special exhibition, E.CO. This important and timely show is being presented by the Ministry of Culture of Spain, the Embassy of Spain, and the Spain-USA Foundation, in conjunction with [Artspace] at Untitled.


Curated by Claudi Carreras, this exhibition brings together photographic projects by twelve European and Latin American photographic collectives, each tasked with crafting a visual essay about one of the most important topics of our day, the environment. Free of direction, the collectives each defined “environment” for themselves. The resulting total of 102 photographs reflect the interests and concerns of each individual group and nation, as well as the working process of each collective. With this premise, each collective freely chose the topics and locations of their project. Thus, the exhibition is a sample of the most pressing environmental problems, in the countries where the collectives are operating. At the same time, it’s a way to understand the peculiarities of teamwork and its modes of representation within the context of the presentation of contemporary art dealing with a specific theme.


To find out more information about our exciting exhibition schedule for the coming year, please visit our website.


[ARTSPACE] at UNTITLED 1 NE 3rd Street  Oklahoma City, OK 73104  P: 405.815.9995 F: 405.813.2070 E: info@artspaceatuntitled.org, www.artspaceatuntitled.org Hours: Tues - Fri: 10am-5pm / Sat: 10am-4pm

From the email 

FINAL WEEKEND OF
OKC BALLET'S
THE NUTCRACKER

Alvin Tostogray and Da Young Jung
warming up.
Photo by apprentice Eri Nikai, OKC Ballet

This is the final weekend of The Nutcracker,  December 14th - 16 at the Civic Center Music Hall.  Friday and Saturday evenings performances are at 7 pm, and 2 pm performances are on Saturday and Sunday at the Civic Center. Children's activities, including pictures with Santa and pictures with the dancers, are held before and after the matinees.

Tickets are available online at www.okcballet.com/tickets.html, by phone at 405.848.TOES, or at the Civic Center Box Office. Prices range from $12 to $52. Family Four packs are $50. Check the website for special offers on tickets.

OKC MUSEUM OF ART FOCUSES
ON AMERICAN MODERN

From the webpage,
by Nancy Condit

Bellows, The Sand Cart
Images provided

My apologizines for only providing the link, but it looks like a very good show.
Happy note: Thursdays 5 pm and after are $5 and the roof is open all winter.
http://www.okcmoa.com/see/exhibitions/american-moderns/

O'Keefe, Two Yellow Leaves

BLAC, INC PRESENTS GOSPEL ARTIST
REV. DR. A. CORTES REX, Jr.

Gospel Artist Rev. Dr. A. Cortes Rex, Jr. of Los Angeles, California is scheduled to appear in Oklahoma City on January l9th in a “Tribute to Dr. Martin L. King, Jr.” It will be held at Frederick A. Douglass Auditorium at 8:00 p.m. during the Martin L. King weekend of birthday celebrations that culminates on January 21^st.

            Born in Wichita, Kansas, Rev. Dr. A. Cortes Rex, Jr. grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he attended Booker T. Washington High School.  Following graduation, he matriculated to Langston University where he graduated in 1980 with honors, and was voted the Most Talented Male in his senior year.  He later pursued a Masters of Administration Degree at California State University at Dominguez Hills in Long Beach.  He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and is the President and Producer of Signs and Wonders, Inc.  Dr. Rex sang background for live performances and recording sessions with well known gospel and secular artists.   Dr. Rex is the recipient of the City of Los Angeles Motown Award, April 2008.  He was nominated to the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in 2009.  Theater lovers may recall that BLAC, Inc. presented him in “A Tribute to James Cleveland” earlier this year.

       Tickets to the show are on sale now for $20 and $50 for V.I. P. seats and a reception with Dr. Rex.  They may be purchased at the following locations: Charlie’s Jazz, Rhythm and Blues Store, Hopkins HairCare and Learning Tree.  For more information and group, senior and student discounts, call BLAC, Inc. at (405)524-3800.

 

            This show is sponsored by Black Liberated Arts Center, Inc., Oklahoma Arts Council and the Ad Astra Foundation as part of the Limited Edition Series in BLAC, Inc.’s 2012-13 Annual Season of Performing Arts.

 

ISTVAN GALLERY

Istvan Gallery Presents a Pop-up Show Featuring Brooke Rowlands and Ty Kelly December 14, 2012 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.   We will be featuring Brooke’s fantastic mixed media interpretation of Magnolias, Fuchsia, and other Flora and Ty Kelly’s colorful and whimsical interpretation of the world. This is great chance to increase your personal collection or find a perfect gift for the art collector in your life.                                                                                                                             Brooke Rowlands "Ever since I have picked up a pencil I have always gravitated towards flowers and the delicate yet powerful nature of them. My inspiration comes from many things, but the main source of my love of art comes from my Grandmother. As a child she showed me that she used to press flowers into books and showed the ones she kept over the years throughout her childhood in Germany. The style I would like to accomplish is more on the contemporary side, with abstract mixed in, tied together with illustrations. I generally like to draw/sketch out my flowers to be the main attraction in my pieces. The flowers are always black and white drawn to the roots of my abstract background splashed with vibrant colors. My media range from Acrylics, Printing based paints, charcoal, graphite, and ink. I have painted on canvas and many mediums before, but currently I have been Delving more into Mixed Media with collage, Monotype Printing, and Watercolors."   ************************************** Ty Kelly Ty Kelly was born 1971 in Casper, WY and moved to Oklahoma City, OK in 1994. He has been painting since the early age of eleven but only became concerned about making it into a career once in Oklahoma. Soon after he began studying art from the renowned Russian artist, Igor Koutsenko, who influences many of the images throughout Ty’s art. You have to know the rules before you break them, and this is where Ty learned them. Today Ty’s style is a mixture of whimsical fantasy and skewed perceptions. He has a wide range of mediums that he has worked with, such as oils, watercolor, pastels and pencils to name a few. He currently resides in Oklahoma City, were he conceptualizes and produces his whimsical body of art. Ty has done numerous commissions for private collectors, and currently exhibits his art throughout the United States. “Through my art, I am inviting children into the art world, with images that appeal to them and to the child in us. I am striving to create a world that sparks the imagination. I have deliberately broken the rules of perspective to free the viewer’s mind into a state of wonder. In this way, I’m breaking the boundaries of the imagination, not merely bending them, making the impossible seem a little more likely.  Enjoy my imaginary world!"   **************************************   Refreshments will be available.  All work is currently up and available for purchase. The show will continue through the end of January, 2013.    Stop by on your way to LIVE ON THE PLAZA!  You DON'T want to miss Hipster Santa!   End of the World Exhibition and Party at Maya Trading and Istvan Thurday December 20, 6:00 - 10:00 p.m.   Come out for the "End of the World" exhibition opening! Presented by Maya Trading Co. - in conjunction with Istvan Gallery - will have artwork that celebrates the end of the Maya calendar's fifth cycle which will take place on 12.21.2012! This might be the last thing you do! We will have a large-scale installation/capsule for attendees as well as dancing by a local Matachines dance troupe! Will be a fun way to spend your last minutes on Earth! **************************************         AK Westerman, Nathan Lee, Rick and Tracey Bewley and Dusty Gilpin's work continues to be on display and for sale through January 2013.

1218 North Western Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73106-6824 • Phone: (405) 831 2874 • urbanartokc@gmail.com From the email

OKLAHOMA FILM & MUSIC OFFICE:
PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS NEEDED

E-Blast

December 13, 2012

The documentary film “Playground of the Native Son” is seeking production assistants for their shoot which is in progress. Filming will continue through December 18^th and includes locations in Dewey, Ramona, and Skiatook. The film documents the historic, yet largely forgotten about 1929 football game between the New York Giants and members of a Native American team comprised of players from various tribes. Pay will range from $80-$100 per day.

Interested parties are asked to  contact Line Producer Marty Veselich by phone 310.702.8991 or e-mail Planetwav@aol.com.

 

Review:
VALSE FANTASIE AND
CINDERELLA BEAUTIFUL
AT OU'S FESTIVAL BALLET

By Nancy Condit

Last Saturday evening the University of Oklahoma's Festival Ballet presented Balanchine's lovely Valse Fantasie, staged by Leslie Peck for the Balancine Trust, and a holiday favorite fairy tale Cinderella, co-choreographed by school of dance director Mary Margaret Holt and faculty member Steve Brule at the Reynolds Performing Arts Center in Norman. This was a beautiful evening of ballet, something that OU does well as it prepares students for professional work.

This version of Valse Fantasie, the first, and choreographed by Balanchine in 1953, was light, airy, frothy, and emphasized the four women reaching up as they leapt, assisted by the single male dancer, all dressed in filmy white costumes by Mike Buchwald after Barbara Karinska. Towards the end of the nine minute piece, the women and man circled their heads and each other, leaving the waltz one of circles on the ground, in the air and around each other. The music was by Mikhail Glinka.

Cinderella, Sergei Prokifiev's music, followed the familiar fairy tale, and included a beautiful celebration of nature as the Fairy Godmother led Cinderella and her prince to the Glade with the fairies of the four seasons. It was shortened from three to two acts "to make a more personal story," co-choreographer Mary Margaret Holt wrote in the press release.

Cinderella combined classic miming and ballet steps with contemporary work. The ballet made the most of miming throughout the dance, starting with Cinderella's grief when she was struck by her stepmother, and her joy at hearing her pet bird as her hands fluttered around the cage caring for them and imitating them. The crone who knocked at the door and who Cinderella showed to the fire was incredibly bent and clothed in a wonderful piece of costuming that wrapped around her figure in black and grey. She was so bent that when she finally became the Fairy Godmother, her transformation seemed almost impossible.

The hysterical Ugly Stepsisters were danced and played by senior faculty members Steve Brule, co-choreographer, and Donn Edwards. They made the most of what appear to be comfortable faces, judging from their faculty photos, and a lot of make-up. These ladies also had the unusual nervous tic of raising their skirts to their hips, allowing their pantalettes to show -- even at the ball.

The duet, chaperoned by the Fairy Godmother, danced by Cinderella and the Prince, after they met, she had run away at midnight, and he found her, was choreographed and performed very well. The piece combined classical and contemporary ballet, especially in the Prince's lifts of Cinderella. The Prince, unidentifiable at the time of this posting, was particularly good and stable in his lifts. The Jester, in duocolor motley, ushered in guests and entertained, returning to a stable one-leg-crossed-
over-the-other standing position.

 

Review:
OKC BALLET
TRUMPS ITSELF IN
PLEASURABLE
NUTCRACKER

By Nancy Condit

Sunday's matinee of the Oklahoma City Ballet's one of the holiday's favorite The Nutcracker presented artistic director Robert Mills' choreography and direction, after original choreography by Lev Ivanov and Marius Petipa, with two leading couples -- the young Clara and Drosselelmyer's apprentice Hans, and the adult Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. The welcoming holiday garlands of lights throughout the house, the fine performance by the Oklahoma City Ballet of The Nutcracker, and the pleasure of hearing Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's music performed by the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, led by Joel Levine, made for a highly enjoyable Sunday matinee for the wide range of young children and adults. Artistic director Robert Mills' choreography and direction, after original choreography by Lev Ivanov and Marius Petipa, presented two leading couples -- the young Clara, and Drosselmyer's apprentice Hans, and the adult Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier.

The ballet as a whole was lovely, with good performances. Company dancer Callye McCollom as Clara and Tye Love as Hans made an engaging couple, although it was difficult to watch a dancer as accomplished as Ms. McCollom pull back through an entire ballet. Miki Kawamura was perfectly straight, and very funny as the Kissy Doll, even as she was carried offstage with arms and legs at a doll's angle. The battle between the soldiers and mice was led well by Nutcracker Tye Love dancing with the incredible head, and the excellent mouse king Ryan Piper. The children were good and charming.

The clear light blue set, by Dale Hall, and costumes, by Michael Jones, Suzanne Hobbs, and Marcus Ford, in the Land of  Show, showing off the company dancers, continues to be the most beautiful scene of the ballet. Combined with Clara -- McCollum, and the Nutcracker Prince -- Love, this is dancing for the beauty and joy of dancing.

The Kingdom of Sweets' individual dances were precise and engaging, with Ellany Abbot leading Leah Burge and Alison Prochaska as the delicate French Marzipan, and Ezlimar Dortolina and Ryan Piper in Arabian Coffee, as they conveyed the exotic by right angled hands, and her curling backwards around him as he supported her. Kawamura and Alvin Tovstogray -- a substitution for Sato, were excellent in the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier's Grand pas de Deux, expecially as she leapt to his shoulder, and as he supported her in her pirouette.

However, with Clara and Hans performing at a "younger" level through all of the corps de ballet presentations, including the Waltz of the Flowers, the grand pas de deux by the Sugar Fairy and her Cavalier -- performing at a higher intensity, was anticlimatic -- if only because of the comparatively short time they spent on stage. While a long series of corps de ballet work can be monotonous, the entire company has worked hard to perfect it. The corps de ballet, which performed so beautifully last year, even found itself squashed to the sides during the Flowers dance while Clara and the Nutcracker danced well in the middle of the stage. This is new choreography by Mills, and this writer looks forward to his next choreography of The Nutcracker.

The final weekend of The Nutcracker December 14th - 16 at the Civic Center Music Hall. Each weekend includes 7 pm performances on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 pm performances on Saturdays and Sundays. Children's activities, including pictures with Santa and pictures with the dancers, are held before and after the matinees.

Tickets are available online at www.okcballet.com/tickets.html, by phone at 405.848.TOES, or at the Civic Center Box Office. Prices range from $12 to $52. Family Four packs are $50. Check the website for special offers on tickets.

Review:
RACE'S HIP HOP NUTCRACKER
ENTERTAINING AS IT
COMBINES PROFESSIONAL
AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

By Nancy Condit

RACE Dance Company, the only professional jazz company in Oklahoma, successfully showed
that they can bring about social awareness and change through entertaining dance performances and dance education
at last night's performance at Bishop McGuinness High School in Oklahoma City.

The last show is tonight at 7:30 p.m. for $12.

Three high school groups performed different types of hip hop for Carlos, 14 year old Dominic Brown, in The Land of Possibilities: Northwest Classen in the Land of Basketballs, Southeast high school dancers  in the Land of Automotive, crump - isolations in camoflauge - from the student dancers at Putnam City North, resilience from the uncles, "Band of Misfits" as they breakdanced, vitality from the cousins as the Jr. Race Dancers danced the footwork style of house to "Electric Santa."

The grandmas, danced by Race Dance Company, brought an hysterical sense of history as they danced Old School on walkers and canes in choreographed piece by Tasha Henex. And director danced a touching and strong comtemp-hop Mom to her choreography, while Brandon Bg Graves danced a wistful pop and lock father in and then out of Carlos' life.

Also performing were The Men of Race, Jr. Race, and RACE.

Dominic Brown himself as Carlos danced well.

The last show is tonight at 7:30 p.m. for $12. A spring show is also is planned.

GREAT DANCERS IN
OCU'S HOME FOR THE
HOLIDAYS

By Nancy Condit

The women and the men of the American Spirit Dancers gave a
very good performance at Thursday night's show of Home for the Holidays
at Oklahoma City University. Whether it's the public's growing appreciation of
dance, director of the dance program Jo Rowan's national recruiting, or both,
the stage was filled with men and women performing Busby Berkeley style
formations, great tap dance numbers, and the "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,"
choreography by Paige Porter and staged by Kari Shaw, followed by the
"March of the Toy Soldiers," choreographed by Diana Brooks, after the 1930's
 movie dance in "Babes in Toyland."

While "Baby Please Come Home" introduced six men leaping -- as suits the
season -- in black suits and brilliant turtlenecks -- under falling snow, choreographed
by Brian J. Marcum, one of the women's show-stoppers was "Here Comes Santa Claus/
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," with two troops of women -- one in short white fur trimmed
capes, skirts and Santa hats, choreographed by Kelli Stevens, the other in red costumes,
forming kicklines, four- spoked rotating wheels, and upper bodies forming patterns similar
to those in Busby Berkeley movies, choreographed by Jo Rowan.

"Deck the Halls/Up On the Rooftop" had the women tapping in short green tunics,
choreographed by Diana Brooks, while "Man with the Bag" had three women in '50's
style green and red tops and full skirts with contrasting red and green crinolines,
adding attitude and Gwen Verden style sensuousness, choreographed by Marcum.

"Lollipop" -- to the '50's classic had dancers tapping to a version of the song delivered
like the beat of a metronome, choreographed by Patricia Oplotnik.  Great.

Remaining performances are at 8 pm December 7th and 8th, with matinees at 2 pm
on December 8th and 9th. For tickets or additional information about these performances,
call the Oklahoma City University Ticket Office at (405) 208-5227 or visit www.okcu.edu/ticketoffice.

CORRECTIONS:
OCU SHOW TIMES
AND JACOBSON
MEMORIAL DATE

Please note that Oklahoma City University's "Home for the Holidays"
will be performed at 8 pm Dec 6, 7, and 8, and 2 pm Dec 8 and 9 in
OCU's Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center. For tickets or additional information
about these performances, call the Oklahoma City University Ticket Office at
(405) 208-5227 or visit www.okcu.edu/ticketoffice.

The date for Jamie Jacobson's memorial service at UCO is not available
at the time of this posting. 

OU FESTIVAL BALLET
PERFORMS CINDERELLA
AND BALANCHINE'S
VALSE FANTASIE

Cinderella in her coach in OU's ballet.
Photos by Wendy Mutz

By Nancy Condit

The University of Oklahoma's Festival Ballet presents a double bill of a new version of the storybook Christmas classic Cinderella, and Balanchine's Valse Fantasie 1953. Performances continue at 8 pm December 6th, 7th, and 8th, and at 3 pm on December 9th in the Donald W. Reynolds Performing Arts Center inside Holmberg Hall, Norman.

As part of their training, OU School of Dance students are prepared with the repertoire as well as the technique to perform many ballets. The school also preserves older works, especially as the appreciation and demand for dance grows. Cinderella, with The Nutcracker, are two of the most popular ballets performed during the holidays, and are regarded as money-makers for the presenting organizations, helping them continue to function the rest of the season.

The new version of Cinderella, set to Sergei Prokofiev's score, is choreographed by faculty member Steve Brule, and Mary Margret Holt, director of the School of Dance and artistic director of the OFB. The piece, set in the French Empire period, with costumes designed by Lloyd Cracknell, school of drama faculty member, has been changed from a full evening ballet into two acts.

"We wanted to turn the grand fairy tale into an intimate, more personal story," Holt said in the press release. "We focused on the heart of score, which is breathtaking, to help form the intimate feeling."

Co-choreographer Brule said, "I have adored this music from the very first time I heard the score, dancing at the Houston Ballet, and am very lucky to get to choreograph music that I have loved for years."

Melanie Jensen and Nicole Reehorst will alternately perform the role of Cinderella, Zeek Wright and Nathan Young will dance the Prince, Natalie Kischuk and Melanie Jensen will perform the role of the Fairy Godmothers, and Steve Brule and Donn Edwards will portray the Stepsisters. Brule is torn, since this is his final year with the School of Dance, but "it's great to be able to work with this great group, and Donn again, since he has retired from the School of Dance faculty."

George Balanchine's Valse Fantaisie, staged by Leslie Peck from the Balanchine Trust, is described as "a light charming ballet" set to Mikhail Glinka's music. "The wonderfully melodic waltz is made richer with echoes of slightly melancholic undertones," Holt said in the press release.

In The New York Times review about the January 1953 premiere, John Martin wrote, “Balanchine has set three of his most enchanting ballerinas in a kind of perpetuum mobile, dainty, lilting, fleet and studied with brilliance. A partner attends them all, less to dance in his own right than to serve as an adjunct to their dancing.  The music, winning and melodious, with no break, no change of tempo, passes from persuasiveness to virtual hypnosis, and it is easy to realize why once the genteel waltz was considered an instrument of the devil” [from the press release].

Tickets are $22 for adults and $18 for senior adults, OU faculty and staff, military, and $14 for students. For tickets, please call the fine Arts Box Office at 405.325.4101 M-F 11:30 am - 5:30 pm. They are also available at the door one hour before performance with check or cash.

OKLAHOMA DANCE
MAKES STATE NEWS

By Nancy Condit

http://www.homeandawaymagazine.com/content.cfm?a=3366

Home and Away is the state magazine circulated to Oklahoma's members
of AAA. Although this writer didn't get a byline, she did get a check. More
importantly, Oklahoma dance received the spotlight.

Thank you for allowing this writer to harass you.

What a lovely holiday present.

The shame is that Jamie Jacobson, chair of the dance department at
the University of Central Oklahoma, died over the summer. A
memorial service will be held for her at UCO on February 2.

Jamie Jacobson
Photo provided

WHAT A WONDERFUL WEEK
FOR DANCE: OKC BALLET,
OCU HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS,
AND RACE!

Race Dance Company dancers from four high schools offer
hip hop dance and a contemporary story of  the classic.

By Nancy Condit



Marzipan dancers perform in the Land of Sweets in
 Oklahoma City Ballet's traditional "The Nutcracker."
All photos provided



Oklahoma City University's American Spirit Dancers dance as merry tapping Santa dancers
in a Broadway style revue "Home for the Holidays."

This week and weekend sees performances by three Oklahoma City dance groups -- the Oklahoma City Ballet, Oklahoma City University's American Spirit Dance Company, and the professional jazz dance company, RACE.

The Oklahoma City Ballet will perform The Nutcracker December 7th - 9th and 14th - 16 at the Civic Center Music Hall. Each weekend includes 7 pm performances on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 pm performances on Saturdays and Sundays.

The Oklahoma City Philharmonic will perform Tchaikovsky's score live for each show.

When the Oklahoma City Ballet presents its version of The Nutcracker,  audiences will see the traditional production "everyone has come to expect from the original libretto used for the very first production choreographed in 1892 -- including a grand Victorian holiday party, a battle between mice and life-sized toy soldiers...and, of course, visions of Sugar Plums and other fanciful characters dancing," 

Robert Mills, artistic director, wrote in a press release. "The holidays are a time for tradition and we are pleased to provide one of Oklahoma's most enduring family holiday outings."

The production will feature over 100 dancers, including numerous children selected during auditions in August. The matinee performances include family activities -- ornament decorating, pictures with Santa, and Braum's Milk and Cookies receptions with the dancers after matinees.

Tickets are available online at www.okcballet.com/tickets.html, by phone at 405.848.TOES, or at the Civic Center Box Office. Prices range from $12 to $52. Family Four packs are $50.

The American Spirit Dancers at Oklahoma City University's Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management will perform December 6th - 9th. Shows will be in OCU's Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center on Blackwelder. Director Jo Rowan founded the dancer group in 1981 to "celebrate America's unique contributions to dance through jazz, tap and musical theater, and to provide students with professional performance opportunities" [from the press release].

The Broadway style show "Home for the Holidays" is "an annual Broadway style dance extravaganza that captures the spirit of the season with rocking swing numbers, hundreds of colorful costumes and a Nativity of Christ's birth. Popular numbers this year include 'March of the Toy Soldiers,' 'Song for a Winter's Night,' 'Imaginary Guy,' 'Baby Please Come Home' and 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town'"[from the press release].

For tickets or additional information about these performances, call the Oklahoma City University Ticket Office at (405) 208-5227 or visit www.okcu.edu/ticketoffice. Single tickets are $28. The program is appropriate for six year olds and up.

Race Dance joins forces with four Oklahoma City School high school dance programs – Capital Hill,

N.W. Classen, Putnam City North, and Southeast -- for the production of the "Hip Hop Nutcracker."

A modern take on The Nutcracker is told through hip hop dance with real world issues in an urban setting. The cast of 80 dancers follows a young man who is searching for something missing from his life only to

find that it exists within himself. Race invites the audience to join Carlos to follow his heart in this coming of age story.

The cast includes the adult troop of the jazz dance company, the Men of Race, and Jr. Race.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. December 7^th and 8^th at Bishop McMcGuinness High School's Petusky Performing Arts Auditorium. Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for students, and $5 for children. Tickets are
available at the door, or through their website, www.racedance.com.