‘The Nutcracker’ brings holiday magic to Cape High

Drosselmeyer brings life-sized dolls to entertain the children. The Columbine doll, Helena Zimmer, performs. DAN COOK PHOTOS

Dan Cook

December 11, 2024

Sussex Dance Academy presented “The Nutcracker” Dec. 8, at Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes. It was the 21st year the Lewes-based group performed the holiday classic for the Cape Region.

This beautiful 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’ ballet is a timeless fairytale about the magic of Christmas that remains a holiday favorite around the world,” said Walker. “Sussex Dance Academy students have presented ‘The Nutcracker’ each December to audiences at Cape Henlopen High School since December 2004.”

Tickets for the Saturday, Dec. 14 performances can be obtained at 29226.danceticketing.com/r/events. Show times are 3 and 7 p.m.

Clara, played by Kinley Johnson, leads the dancers in the party scene.

Drosselmeyer, played by Braeden Swain, brings life-sized dolls to entertain the children. The Columbine doll, Helena Zimmer, performs.

The little party girls make fun of the marching Fritz, played by Krew Johnson, and the little boys.

Frau Stahlbaum, played by Cadence Hostetler, dances with her maids, Lorilyn O’Day, left, and Lannah O'Day, during the party scene.

Clara, played by Kinley Johnson, dances in the party scene.

Clara’s parents Frau Stahlbaum and Herr Stahlbaum, played by Cadence Hostetler and Kole Loftin, lead the adult dance in the party scene.

Mysterious godfather Drosselmeyer, played by Braeden Swain, teases the young girls with the nutcracker.

Mysterious godfather Drosselmeyer, played by Braeden Swain, presents the nutcracker to Clara, played by Kinley Johnson.

Clara, played by Kinley Johnson, eagerly dances with her new gift, a wooden nutcracker.

Drosselmeyer, played by Braeden Swain, surprises everyone at the party.

Clara, played by Kinley Johnson, runs with the mice soldiers.

As the clock strikes midnight, Clara, played by Kinley Johnson, dances after the mice attack and steal the nutcracker.

The mice and the toy soldiers battle each other.

Clara, played by Kinley Johnson, dances with the Nutcracker, played by Jacob Cuaztil-Rojas.

The Mouse King, played by Addison Manley, battles with the Nutcracker, played by Jacob Cuaztil-Rojas.

The Snow Queen, played by Camilla Willis, dances with Cavalier, played by Kole Loftin.

The Dream Fairy, played by Summer Fusco, welcomes Clara to the Land of Sweets.

The Sugar Plum Fairy, played by Bella Petka, dances for Clara with her Ladies in Waiting, played by (l-r) Jorja Truitt, Amelia DiPaolo, Emma Randazzo and Natalie Roch Dornisch.