This is Cape Cod Dance Center’s 20th annual performance of the holiday classic "The Nutcracker." The ballet production, directed and choreographed by studio owner Eveline Carle, has been a part of the holiday tradition for two decades. With a cast of over 80 members, including professional dancers, alumnae and students currently enrolled in Ms. Carle’s ballet program, the Christmas fantasy is captivating for the whole family. This year’s performances will be held at the Bourne High School on Waterhouse Road on Saturday, December 12th at 7pm and Sunday, December 13th at 2pm.

The Cape Cod Dance Center’s production is not only exquisitely performed, it is also very entertaining. Ms. Carle’s humor shines through from the first scene of the ballet in the sprightliness of the Party Scene, to the amusing cooks who bring giant-sized cakes to Clara—the lead character of the ballet—as she enters the magical "Land of the Sweets." The Cape Cod Dance Center's version of the ballet unfolds on Christmas Eve where young Clara and her family have gathered for the night's festivities.

Clara's godfather, Drosselmeyer, who is also a toymaker, brings gifts for the children, including a wooden Nutcracker. During the night, after everyone has gone to bed, Clara returns to check on her Nutcracker to find herself in the midst of a battle between an army of gingerbread soldiers and the Mouse King after which she travels to the beautiful Land of Sweets.

This year's Clara is performed by Bourne resident, Maggie Olson.  Maggie is the daughter of Catherine and Richard Olson. In addition to being a talented dancer, Maggie is also a swimmer. She swims six days a week and competes in meets eight to ten times a year. Maggie is also an insulin dependent diabetic type 1. She was diagnosed when she was 4. Although she has to monitor her blood sugar throughout the day and takes an average of 4 or 5 insulin injections daily, she is able to do anything she sets her mind to.

Because everyone at the dance center learned more about type 1 diabetes through Maggie over the years, Cape Cod Dance Center decided to raise special funds in support of the Juvenile Diabetic Research Foundation (JDRF) so that other children, like Maggie, can continue to pursue their dreams regardless of diabetes.  Throughout this special 20th Anniversary performance of the Nutcracker, Cape Cod Dance Center will raffle a special Celebratory Basket including dancewear, a gift certificate to the Dancer’s Place, signed pointe shoes from our guest dancer, a 30” Nutcracker and more. All raffle ticket sold will go directly to the JDRF. To send separate donations or for more information on the JDRF please visit www.jdrf.org.

Maggie Olson will be joined on stage by guest dancer, Glen Lewis from the Island Moving Co in Rhodes Island, who will be performing as the Nutcracker Prince and the Harlequin Doll. Mr. Lewis danced with the Richmond Ballet after receiving his BFA in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Dancing the special roles of the Sugarplum and the Cavalier are Montreal resident Isabelle Marquis and Felix Lavoie who will be traveling to the Cape for the performance. Ms. Marquis toured with the Kirov Ballet at a very young age in the ballet Sleeping Beauty when in North America. After 17 years of dancing, Ms. Marquis has performed on stage hundreds of times.

She is partnered on stage by Felix Lavoie, Mr. Lavoie started his career with Roland Petit and the National Ballet of Marseille, France. His career progressed from a Little Rat in the Nutcracker to many Principal Roles with Ballet Ouest de Montreal.