Ballet Theatre South’s “Nutcracker” returns to Albany with homegrown stars, holiday magic and a community of volunteers

ALBANY – During the first week of December, the halls of Albany’s Municipal Auditorium are aglow with stage lights, covered in a blur of pinks, purples, greens and reds, and bursting with the sounds of classical music. 

Dancers in pink tights, shiny slippers and cozy warm-ups fill the auditorium, watching each other glide gracefully across the stage as directors and choreographers pause for critiques. Parents bustle around backstage, fixing costumes, handling props and directing dancers to their next spot.

It’s “Nutcracker” season, and the dancers of Ballet Theatre South, a southwest Georgia nonprofit dance organization, are hard at work, preparing for opening night Friday. 

Performances will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Albany Municipal Auditorium, transforming the historic venue into a fantasy of sugarplum dreams for the traditional ballet.

For more than three decades, Ballet Theatre South has made it its mission to bring the discipline and beauty of classical ballet to southwest Georgia. BTS has provided local young dancers the rare opportunity to train alongside — and perform with — true professionals.

This year’s production features more than 40 school-age dancers from local schools joined by professional, guest artists who take on the marquee roles.

It’s a show most dancers look forward to performing each year. 

“It’s traditional. It’s timeless. Everybody’s heard the music before,” Alex Wilson, a 17-year-old dancer said. “It’s our biggest show of the year.” 

A homecoming for the Sugar Plum Fairy

Haley Whitman, a 23-year-old artist with the National Ballet of Texas, grew up dancing at Murphy Dance Studio in Albany, and with Ballet Theatre South. She first performed in the company’s production of “The Nutcracker” when she was just 8 years old. 

Now, she’s traveled home from Texas to take on the magical main role of the Sugar Plum Fairy – a role she’s played two times before. 

“I just love dancing here,” Whitman said. “It’s fun to come back because this is my home. I feel like I can be very present here and really enjoy my time dancing.” 

She also joins her younger sister, who plays a rose in the production, as well as her parents, who will play the role of Clara, the main character’s, parents – just as they did when Whitman played Clara. 

Whitman said “The Nutcracker” is a well-loved tradition among both dancers and audience members.

“I feel like it’s very timeless, and a lot of people in the area like to bring their young kids and then it inspires a lot of them to start dancing, which is really special,” she said.

Whitman said performing “The Nutcracker” each year means sacrifice for those involved. She said days are filled with rehearsals, which means less time for family and friends during the beginning of the holiday season. 

“Luckily, everybody is friends here,” she said. “Your friends are at dance.” 

Student dancers juggle school as well. Wilson, on top of playing multiple roles in the ballet, is studying for exams and performing in her school’s dance line team every day. She comes to rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” after an already full day. 

“I dance every day,” she said. 

A grand finale: Graduating senior takes on lead role as Clara

Emily Reese, an 18-year-old home-schooled senior from the Albany area, was cast in the lead role as Clara for her final performance with the ballet. 

The senior was recently accepted into Kennesaw State University, where she plans to major in dance. Reese has danced with Ballet Theatre South for five years, and this is her third year performing in “The Nutcracker.” 

“I think it’s a nice kind of culmination and closing to all the performances that I’ve done with them,” she said. “It’s pretty meaningful.”

Before she was Clara, Reese played all kinds of roles, from partygoers, to a rat, to flowers and to snowflakes. 

“The last time we did that, I was like anything and everything,” she said. “It was just dance, quick change, dance, quick change. It’s really nice to have one big role to focus on.” 

This is the dancer’s first time dancing with a partner. She said the last few months of rehearsals have been challenging, learning how to trust and flow with another person’s movements. 

“He’s been a saint,” she said of her partner, Joshua Ethridge, a professional dancer who is guest performing in the production. 

From Florida to Italy to New York and now to Albany

Ethridge, a 26-year-old dancer based in Tallahassee, Fla., has danced ballet since he was 5 years old and traveled across the world to perform. He danced in Charles Hagan’s, a ballet master and choreographer at Ballet Theatre South, company as a child, and Ethridge is returning under his leadership to perform in the upcoming production of “The Nutcracker.” 

The last few months have seen Ethridge traveling back and forth between Albany and Tallahassee to rehearse here while preparing for a separate performance in Florida. Ethridge said he stays organized by keeping a notebook and writing all of his notes on choreography or movement there. 

He said “The Nutcracker” marks the Christmas season for him. 

“It’s a tradition,” Ethridge said. “The year doesn’t feel right until you’ve done ‘The Nutcracker’.” 

Ethridge emphasized how much the parent volunteers with Ballet Theatre South change the experience. There are crews for costumes, backstage, props and more. He said he’s danced in many shows where the dancers were their own crew.  

Laurie Senn, the president of Ballet Theatre South’s board, said as a nonprofit, the organization relies on volunteers. Each dancer must have at least one family member contribute volunteer time for the production. 

“We don’t have a lot of money,” Senn said. “This entire company – outside of guest artists, choreographers and directors – runs on volunteers.”

An evening of magic, whimsy and fun

Senn encouraged the community to come out to support the dance company and local arts in general. 

“It’s bringing art to the community that otherwise they wouldn’t have access to,” she said. “We have other regional ballet companies around us, but no other ballet company in the city. It’s something special that inspires people.” 

Ethridge said the show is a fun time for everyone to enjoy. 

“It’s wonder and whimsy,” he said.

Show times are: 

• Dec 5 — 7:30 PM
• Dec 6 — 2:30 PM
• Dec 7 — 2:30 PM

Tickets are on sale now. Admission is $19, and tickets can be purchased online or in person at the box office at the Albany Civic Center (100 W. Oglethorpe Blvd.).

For more information, visit the Ballet Theatre South website.