Arts Ballet of Florida celebrates the company’s 26th season with performances of “The Nutcracker” beginning December 8 through December 10 at Aventura Arts and Cultural Center in Aventura.
ABT will continue to perform “The Nutcracker” with three more shows from December 15-17 at Parker Playhouse in Ft. Lauderdale.
The success of Arts Ballet of Florida is attributed to its founder, former ballet dancer Vladimir Issaev, now 68, who is celebrating his 61st year dancing, teaching and administrating ballet.
“I consider myself to be a very fortunate and lucky man,” said Issaev. “From the very beginning when I took up ballet, I knew immediately that dancing would be my passion and I learned to evolve through the years and especially enjoy teaching young men and women the art and love of ballet.”
Issaev choreographed Arts Ballet of Florida’s production of “The Nutcracker” in a unique fashion drawing from his roots in Russia. With a combined cast of 104 professional dancers and students, the ABT draws from the athletic fluidness and grace of the cast to give “The Nutcracker” its unique charm, with sparkling costumes and visual special effects.
Standing out in the ABT production of “The Nutcracker” are costumes of The Angels by designer Jorge Gallado along with a Christmas tree created by Elena Bond to be lit in the middle of the stage with snowflakes immersed in many scenes
Starring in “The Nutcracker” are ABT dancers Saaya Okada and Remina Tanaka as “Sugar Plum Fairy and Her Cavalier”; Daniel Panameno and Yayoi Sasaki as “The Snow Queen and Her King” and Louise Rigby alternating with Kristy Walker with Peter Azevedo as “Dew Drop and Her Prince”.
Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida- The Nutracker- Owen Horsford and Yayo Sasaki – Courtesy ABT.
The production is also highlighted this year with Venezuelan dancer Anita Vivas portraying the grandmother.
Along with regular performances of ABT’s “The Nutcracker” at Aventura Center and Parker Playhouse, ABT will enchant students at many Broward and Miami-Dade County Schools on December 14 and 15.with many collateral events, such as The Nutcracker Tea Party and the Nutcracker at the Hilton in Aventura, 2885 NE 191 Street in Aventura. Broward County students will also see two morning shows on December 14-15 at Parker Playhouse.
For tickets to these events, go to artsballettheatre.org or call 305-948-4777.
ABT will also include a special sensory performance of “The Nutcracker” for those on the autism spectrum on December 9 at 11 am at Aventura Arts and Cultural Center.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Arts Ballet of Florida presents choreographer Vladimir Issaev’s “The Nutcracker” with performances from December 8-10 at Aventura Arts and Cultural Center, 3385 NE 188 Street in Aventura at 7 pm with the Sunday, December 10 performance at 3 pm.. Tickets are $60. Tickets for the special sensory performance on December 9 at 11 am are $20. .
ABT will also perform “The Nutcracker” on December 16 and 17 at 7 pm and on December 18 at 3 pm at Parker Playhouse, 707 NE 8th Street in Ft. Lauderdale. Tickets range from $30-60..
For tickets and more information, call 305-948-4777 or go to artsballettheatre.org
