Ballet Theatre South brings ‘The Nutcracker’ back for holidays
Tickets go on sale Saturday morning for holiday prodction
By Jada Haynes
ALBANY — This is the year. Ballet Theatre South is putting on its biennial production of “The Nutcracker” beginning at the end of this month. With help from a Vibrant Communities Grant, students who can’t afford tickets will have an opportunity to receive courtesy tickets from their school.
“Most children grow up with sports, and all they see is sports,” Artistic Director Carol Mathis said. “So they need to be involved in seeing dance and the arts in order to want to be a part of it. By having a production of this quality in a town the size of Albany, when they come back to their classes and wherever they take dancing, they’re more excited about being a part of something like that and working toward being in the company.”
Hailey Whitman will play the lead role of Clara. Asked why she chose Whitman for the lead, Mathis responded, “If you knew Hailey, you would know why.
“Hailey’s been with us since she was 3 years old, and Hailey is what any choreographer would love to have as far as a dancer because she is committed 100 percent,” Mathis said. “She’s there long before the doors open, she’s willing to do anything and she’s really a good inspiration to the other children and the other dancers. She’s somebody that you want your child to look up to (and) she’s a beautiful dancer. … We’re very proud of her.”
Leslie Hodges, the theater’s choreographer and director, said she’s excited about “just seeing it all come together.” Part of her job is overseeing production and the nearly 200 costumes necessary for the ballet shows. BTS has about 60 performers, ranging from 8 to 50 years old, who began practicing in August ,and each requires a specialized outfit.
“All of these 60 performers need at least one costume, and most need at least three costumes,” Hodges said. “So, you’re talking about 200 costumes at least. It’s a lot of costumes and a lot of work for our costume coordinator, Lori Leach. … Even the youngest dancers will have three roles. … The older ones have even more, maybe four or five. A different costume for each thing (is) a big job.”
Last month, BTS received a Vibrant Communities Grant from the Georgia Council for the Arts. The grant allows the troupe to provide 500 courtesy tickets to students who can’t afford to see the school shows or “The Nutcracker” performances. To receive one, teachers need to submit the names of students in their school who request one to [email protected]. School shows will run on Nov. 29 at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Tickets will be $5.
“I just wish dance was more a part of the community,” Mathis said. “The only problem we have had is that it has grown over the years and so many more people want to be a part of it. I hope the time never comes that we have to tell someone that they can’t be a part of it. I don’t ever want to see that day.”
Mathis said finding the funds to keep the productions running is the hardest part of her job.
“The children are more than willing to give up their Saturdays from, probably, mid-August until the production the first weekend in December,” she said. “They’re really enthused about being a part of it, and they enjoy it. That’s what makes it worthwhile. But money is hard for everybody. … But we’re fortunate because we have the right people (to help), and we’re really happy about that.”
Ballet Theatre South started in 1980 as Albany Ballet Theatre. Maude Evelyn Murphy started the studio as a way to give local dancers a place to learn and perform.
“As time went on, we eventually changed it to Ballet Theatre South because of children from all areas around Albany were coming in, and we thought it’d be better if we changed it,” Mathis, Murphy’s daughter, said. “We wanted to offer them the opportunity to be in an environment that was more professional. The recitals are good, and they show what they’re learning, but this has got the scenery and the right atmosphere where it would be more of a production.”
Tickets will be available on tututix.com/tickets beginning Saturday at 10 a.m. “The Nutcracker” will run for three days — Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 1-2 at 2:30 p.m. All showings will be at the Albany Municipal Auditorium, located at 200 N Jackson St.
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