Tchaikovsky’s ballet, “The Nutcracker,” to feature many local dancers

Many communities will tell you that the Christmas season isn’t complete without a presentation of the magical ballet, The Nutcracker.

Well, this year, Orcas Island will be able to feel the magic, thanks to a collaborative production of Orcas Center and the Northwest Ballet Theatre, a dance company based in Anacortes.

The performance, which will take place this Saturday, Nov. 23, at 7:30 p.m., will feature soloists with Northwest Ballet Theatre. One is Orcas island’s multi-talented Julie Garritan, who will dance three separate roles in The Nutcracker, and will perform a solo. Garritan has been traveling to Anacortes every Saturday for several months in order to rehearse for this demanding series of roles. She has been with the Anacortes-based theatre company for the past two years.

But Garritan isn’t the only Orcas islander who will be on the local stage this Saturday night. Joining the ballet will be the 23 young children in Jean Henigson’s ballet class, plus six adult ballroom dancers.

The Nutcracker is renowned for its colorful sets and costumes, as well as the beautiful music written by the composer Tchaikovsky. The company will provide the set plus most of the costumes for the Orcas Center performance.

Northwest Ballet Theatre has been performing this ballet for several years. It has garnered kudos for its high caliber dancing, its sparkling imagination, and its purity. John Bishop, artistic director of Northwest Ballet Theatre and a former member of New York’s American Ballet Theatre, is choreographing the ballet, with assistance from Garritan and Henigson.

All the local dancers except Garritan have been rehearsing here on Orcas Island, while those with Northwest Ballet Theatre have been preparing in Anacortes. The mainland-based dancers group will travel to Orcas Island this Friday, Nov. 22, for a full day of rehearsals. They will be housed with families on the island.

The Orcas performance is the joint brainchild of Henigson and Bishop. It is the latter’s dream to create a dance company based in Skagit County, but also open to dancers from the San Juan Islands. Henigson’s dream is to provide an outlet for young dancers who have outgrown the resources here on the island, and are yearning for more advanced instruction that is easily accessible. Saturday’s performance of The Nutcracker marks the initial effort by Bishop and Henigson to achieve their respective dreams.

Tickets for The Nutcracker are now on sale at the Orcas Center box office. Seats are $6 for students, and $10 for adults. Families of four or more will be charged $4 for students and $8 for adults.

The ballet will also be presented in Anacortes and Snohomish during this holiday season. Garritan and the six adult ballroom dancers will perform in the mainland ballets. The young children, however, will dance only on Orcas.

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