Nutcracker
The Dalton Arts Project is proud to present "Nutcracker 2023"
For 30 years The Nutcracker ballet has been a tradition during the holiday season for the Northwest Georgia region. Nutcracker 2023, presented by the Dalton Arts Project, will feature more than 300 local and guest performers for 8 performances:
Fri, Dec 8 at 7:30 pm,
Sat, Dec 9 at 2:00 pm,
Sat, Dec 9 at 7:30 pm,
Sun, Dec 10 at 2:00 pm,
Fri, Dec 15 at 7:30 pm,
Sat, Dec 16 at 2:00 pm,
Sat, Dec 16 at 7:30 pm,
Sun, Dec 17 at 2:00 pm,
Tickets are $23 and go on sale to the public on November 20th for online tickets, go to catoosacolonnade.com or call the Colonnade at 706-935-9000.
Title sponsors for Nutcracker 2023 are Textile Rubber and Chemical Company, Mohawk, The Colonnade Theatre, Shaw Industries, Direct Packaging, Coldwell Banker, Box 1, Engineered Floors, Brown Whitworth Reynolds Foundation and Plexus/Catherine Minor
Livestreaming of all eight performances will be available!
Mark Burns
Cavalier
Mark Burns, former soloist with the Dance Theatre of Harlem, has danced leading roles throughout America by choreographers such as George Balanchine, Alonzo King, Alvin Ailey, John Alleyne, Dwight Rhoden and William Forsythe. He has also been a guest artist with Complexions Contemporary Ballet and Brooklyn Ballet. He began his training at the Joffrey School of Ballet in New York, and then continued study at the School of American Ballet. He also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from New York University. Mr. Burns is currently working with Janusphere, Maryland Youth Ballet, Ballethnic and Flint Youth Ballet.
Gabriela Escalona
Sugar Plum Fairy
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Gabriela started her professional training at age 17 under the tutelage of Nina Novak, former principal dancer of Ballet Russe of Monte Carlo. After graduating from the Nina Novak Ballet Academy, she was invited to be part of the pre-professional ballet program at Kirov Ballet Academy of Washington, DC. In 2015 she returned to Venezuela to continue her training and performing with the Ballet Municipal El Hatillo, under the direction of Rumen Rashev, former principal dancer at Sofia Opera in Bulgaria where she performed the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Giselle and Grisi among others. In 2017, Gabriela joined the main company of Company de Ballet Del Teatro Teresa Carreno. Her repertoire includes Grand Pas Classique Pas de Deux, Sylvia Pas de Deux by G. Balanchine, Raymonda Variation and Visión Scene Adagio. She is currently a guest artist with North Atlanta Dance Theater and is excited to be dancing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy with her friend Mark Burns.
Ralph Jacques
Snow King, Spanish
Ralph Jacques will be dancing the roles of the Snow King and the Spanish Pas de Deux. He was born in Chicago, Illinois where he studied with the Boitsov Ballet and performed with the Chicago City Ballet. While there he was chosen by Paris Opera ballerina Anna Paskevska to be the feature male dancer in the first edition of her book “From the First Plie to Mastery”. He has also been a member of Atlanta Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Ballet Rotaru, Ballet International, and most recently Ballet Memphis where he was a principal dancer. As a guest artist, Mr. Jacques has performed with many companies both nationally and internationally including with Beatles legend Paul McCartney. He toured Romania with Ballet Rotaru, and Taiwan with Ballet International. Today he teaches ballet in the Atlanta area and continues to travel and perform as a guest artist. Dalton Arts Project is pleased to have Mr. Jacques share his talents with our community this year.