The Merchants of SEASIDE announced the return of the annual Nutcracker ballet to be performed by the Dance Academy of Seaside Neighborhood School (SNS) and Alpharetta Dance Theatre.

This one-time performance is FREE and open to the public on Saturday, November 23rd at 5:00 pm in the Seaside Amphitheater.

Seaside co-founder and patron of the Arts Daryl Davis invited Alpharetta Dance Theatre dancers back to perform the Nutcracker with the dancers of Seaside Neighborhood School after standing room only was available at last year’s show. The Nutcracker in Seaside is under the direction of Rose Barile, an honor graduate of Juilliard School and former Prima Ballerina of the Atlanta Ballet, who danced Sugar Plum Fairy for decades. Barile recently celebrated her 30th anniversary as Director of Alpharetta Dance Theatre and her company has performed the Nutcracker in North Atlanta for 17 years.

“I truly enjoy working with the SNS dancers,” said Barile. “We are creating an opportunity for these students to develop qualities of strength, discipline and leadership in their school and communities.”

Featuring Act II, with choreography by Barile, the Nutcracker in SEASIDE will last one hour. Set to a score by Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky, the performance features 22 Alpharetta Dance Theatre ballerinas and 25 Dance Academy of SNS dancers. SNS dancers expand their role this year by performing three Act II dances: Angels, Candy Canes and Polichinelles. The show opens with a Christmas Carol performance by SNS’s music department, led by Balder Saunders, followed by students from local elementary schools dancing to the overture of Angels.

Several SNS students are returning to the Nutcracker stage including Emma Pilcher and Caroline Bailey.

“We are eager to perform the Nutcracker again this year,” said Averie Lico, Alpharetta Dancer Theatre Sugarplum Fairy. “Seaside is a magical place to present the Nutcracker and I am honored to dance as the Sugarplum Fairy this year.”

The Dance Academy of Seaside Neighborhood School is directed by both Andrea Alfieri, the jazz and musical theatre instructor and Seleta Hayes Howard, the classical ballet mistress. Founded by Alfieri, Cathy Brubaker and Howard in 2011, the program currently enrolls 27 students and has enhanced the school’s curriculum by offering alternatives to traditional physical education classes.

“We are grateful for the support of Daryl Davis, who is dedicated to bringing the Arts into our community,” said Hayes Howard, Nutcracker Ballet Mistress and former student of Barile. “Our program provides students with the tools to improve their confidence, discipline, and dance skills for both presenting material and working toward a goal. This gives them a great sense of achievement as well as skills they will use in all life situations.”

“For a classically trained dancer, Christmas is not complete without the Nutcracker,” added Alfieri, an On/Off Broadway veteran. “Having also danced this ballet from age eight well into my late twenties, it’s a joy to be part of sharing this magical holiday tradition with our students and the 30A community.

For more info, call Seaside at (850) 231-6179.