Sussex Dance Academy performs The Nutcracker

Clara, Mary Kate Barnhart, admires the nutcracker.

Dan Cook

December 29, 2019

Sussex Dance Academy presented “The Nutcracker” Dec. 14 at Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes. It was the 16th year the Lewes-based group performed the holiday classic for the Cape Region.

This ballet tradition has continued with Sussex Ballet (the Academy's youth ballet company) since 2004 under the direction of director Katie Downes Walker.

The Nutcracker is a classical ballet in two acts and is based on E.T.A. Hoffmann's 1816 fairy tale, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. It tells the story of a little girl (Clara) who receives a unique gift of a nutcracker from her mysterious Godfather Drosselmeyer on Christmas Eve. The magic begins as Clara falls asleep with her new gift.

The cast of 65 dancers (ages 6-18) along with one male guest artist, Scott Weber from New York City, performed in the production a Cape and at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center on Dec. 15.

Auditions were held in late August with rehearsals starting mid-September and running every Saturday until the production.

Clara, Mary Kate Barnhart, admires the nutcracker.

The Mouse King, Claudia Walker, and the Nutcracker, Brandon Zehner, battle for superiority.

The Snow Queen, Samantha Sordi, is swept off her feet by Snow King Scott Weber.

The Snow Queen, Samantha Sordi, dances with the snowflakes.

The Sugar Plum Fairy (Molly Lingo) performs with Cavalier (Scott Weber) as Clara (Mary Kate Barnhart) looks on during Sussex Ballet's performance. DAN COOK PHOTOS

The party girls perform their dance in act 1 the party scene.

Clara, Mary Kate Barnhart, dances with her brother "Fritz" Bronx Murray during the party scene..

The Snowflake dancers perform the “Waltz of the Snowflakes.”

The Dream Fairy, Stella Dutton, dances with the Ladies in Waiting.

The children bring Clara to Land of Sweets.

The Jesters Katie Riley, left, and Barbara Kissell are excited to welcome Clara to the Land of the Sweets.

Clara, Mary Kate Barnhart, tells her the court jesters and ladies in waiting what happened with her nutcracker doll.

Chinese Tea with (l-r) Lily Penuel, Jackson Dutton and Isabella Petka

Russian Trepak is performed by (l-r) Ava Dutton, Jackson Dutton and Cadence Hostetler.

Arabian lead dancer Emma Brower, right, and Riley Senseny dances for Clara.

Dance of the Flutes are performed by (l-r) Stella Caldwell, Lizzy Krams and Meoghan Swain.

The Marzipan Flutes of Lizzy Krams, center and Sydney Mundok performs for Clara.

The Marzipan Flutes performing for Clara are (l-r) Riley Senseny, Andrea Cabrera, Samantha Sordi, Stella Caldwell, Lizzy Krams, Meoghan Swain, Sydney Mundock and Abby Krams.

Polichinelles Lead is Ava Dutton.

The Waltz of the Flowers is performed by (l-r) Kate Conaway, Claudia Walker, Meoghan Swain (rosebud), Stella Dutton and Stella Caldwell.

Scott Weber of New York City performed as Cavalier.

Clara’s parents Frau Stahlbaum, Emma Brower, and Herr Stahlbaum, Jamie Riddle, lead the adult dance in the party scene. Frau Stahlbaum, Emma Brower, and Herr Stahlbaum, Jamie Riddle.