The Nutcracker at Niagara Falls High School may be the most unique (and different) performance that Western New York has ever seen.

COVID-19 completely changed the way we do a lot of things, and for the Greater Niagara Ballet Company, it was more than challenging to find skillful dancers to fill the roles this year. 

The main reason is due to the 19-month long border closure between Canada and the United States. In prior years, about 40-50% of the cast were made up of Canadians. However, that became impossible this year, making this Nutcracker the first of its kind – an “All-American” Nutcracker.

The loss of the talented Canadians was noted by nearly everyone you would ask about the show, but many people stepped up in their roles and took on new responsibilities that had never been seen before, including co-directors dancing on stage along with the rest of the cast.

It is impressive, to say the least, but know that Western New York will be more than represented in this production. 

When you watch the 42nd annual performance of The Nutcracker by the Greater Niagara Ballet Company, you will see kids on stage from 13 Western New York dance schools.

These are the 13 WNY dance schools that are a part of this year’s production:

  • Tonawanda Dance Arts
  • Adele’s School of Dance
  • Lewiston Dance School
  • Grand Island Dance
  • Janet Dunstan’s Dance Academy
  • Classical Ballet of WNY
  • Hamburg Performing Arts
  • The Dance Shop
  • Time to Dance
  • Jaclyn Carol Dance Academy
  • Feder’s School of Classical Ballet
  • Performing Arts Dance Academy
  • University of Buffalo

It has been a challenging year for the Greater Niagara Ballet Company without our Canadian friends, but the show is sure to be stellar with the work that these talented Western New Yorkers have put into the performance. 

Come see this one-of-a-kind performance of The Nutcracker this weekend at the Performing Arts Center at Niagara Falls High School. They have a morning show for the kids at 10 am, and then a night show at 7:30 pm on Friday, December 10. You can also see the performance twice on Saturday, December 11 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm.

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