Performances
The Nutcracker
Since 2001, Southern New Hampshire Youth Ballet presents an annual production of The Nutcracker based on the story by E.T.A. Hoffman and music by Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky during the holiday season at the historic Palace Theatre in downtown Manchester. To add to the intensity of the performance, the Youth Ballet is accompanied by a live orchestra, just as Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece was intended.
Each year, Youth Ballet performers are joined by many notable guest artists that have included Carlos Molina, former principal dancer with the Boston Ballet, Jeremy Collins, former Principal Dancer of the American Ballet Theatre and many Southern NH Dance Theater alumni, Lauren Stewart formerly of The Joffrey Ballet & Suzanne Farrell Ballet; Janice Niggeling from the Metropolitan Opera Ballet & the Broadway productions of Phantom of the Opera & West Side Story and Amy Von Handorf formerly of The Nevada Dance Theatre. The Youth Ballet is also joined each year by many celebrity guests that perform the role of Mother Ginger. Past celebrities have included WZID’s Mike Morin, John Clayton, Kria Sakakeeny or WMUR, Nazzy from JYY and the Morning Waking Crew and others.
Spring Performance
Since 2001 Southern New Hampshire Youth Ballet has celebrated the coming of Spring with a wide array of productions.From our original Spring-Fling to The New Hampshire Choreographer’s Showcase to our most recent children’s storybook series at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, company members have the opportunity to perform classic and original ballets.This year the Youth Ballet will present Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and The Princess & the Pea.
Year-End Performances
At the end of the school year, Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater presents its Year-End Performance. All dancers attending regular classes at the Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater are invited to participate. Traditionally, three separate shows are presented; a Pre-School Performance featuring our youngest performers ages 2 to 6. A Matinee Performance showcasing our graded ballet program (levels 1 thru 4) along with our boys program and our tap, jazz and modern dance programs. Lastly, an Evening program is presented featuring the upper levels or our ballet program along with company and apprentice members of Southern New Hampshire Youth Ballet.