For the first time in nearly a decade, Kingsport Ballet will present the holiday classic “The Nutcracker” on a local stage.In response to popular demand, Kingsport Ballet is bringing its annual production a bit closer to home. For several years, the company has staged “The Nutcracker” at Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Greeneville, hosting regional audiences from all over Greene County and the Tri-Cities. Audience members should plan to get their tickets early for this year’s production, slated for the first full weekend in December at Northeast State’s Wellmont Performing Arts Center in Blountville.“We have staged productions here before, and believe that this venue will give audiences a very up-close and intimate view of this charming ballet,” said Valeria Sinyavskaya, artistic director. “‘The Nutcracker’ is a very warm ballet, at times bringing the audience in, while there are other scenes that require the viewer to experience the whole stage at once, more from a distance. We look forward to striking this balance with this year’s production.”Guest artist Vadim Burciu will charm audiences once again in the role of Herr Drosselmeyer. Burciu, a native of Moldova, makes for a mysterious yet kindly uncle. Several other professional guest artists will join Burciu in this production, as well as accomplished Kingsport Ballet Company members and students from the school.To compensate for a smaller venue — Northeast seats 500 — Kingsport Ballet will offer four performances rather than the usual three in years past.The school performance, which is already sold out, will take place at 10 a.m., Dec. 5, while public performances will be held at 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7, with an additional matinee performance at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec., 8.Tickets can be purchased through Kingsport Ballet’s website at www.kingsportballet.org or through the Kingsport Ballet Facebook page. Purchasers may print their tickets at home or pick them up at “will call” prior to the performance.Tickets range from $10 to $20; college students may attend the production for $10 with a school ID.For more information, visit www.kingsportballet.org or call (423) 378-3967.
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