Canyon Concert Ballet is proud to introduce our 2018 guest artists for The Nutcracker, playing the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier:

Julia Erickson

Julia Erickson, originally from Seattle, received her training on scholarship with Pacific Northwest Ballet School and San Francisco Ballet School.  She has toured to Europe and Asia with PNB and danced with Texas Ballet Theater for two seasons prior to joining Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in 2001.  A longtime Principal Dancer with the company (she was promoted to Soloist in 2004 and to Principal in 2009) she recently left her position at PBT in November of this year to explore other opportunities. Among her principal roles, Julia has performed Swan Lake (Odette/Odile), La Bayadère (Nikiya), The Sleeping Beauty (Aurora, Lilac Fairy, Carabosse), La Sylphide (the Sylph), Le Corsaire (Gulnare), Diana and Acteon, and Balanchine’s Theme and Variations, Western Symphony (4th Movement), Who Cares?, Prodigal Son, Sylvia Pas de Deux, Agon, and Serenade. She has also danced the roles of Lady Capulet in Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Roméo et Juliette, Myrtha in Giselle, “An Episode in his Past” in Antony Tudor’s Jardin Aux Lilas (Lilac Garden), the Wife in Jerome Robbins’ The Concert, Anita in his West Side Story Suite, and featured roles in Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Helena, Hyppolita), The Four Temperaments (2nd Theme) and Divertimento Number 15. Her contemporary repertory includes Paul Taylor’s Company B; Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room, Nine Sinatra Songs, and Octet; Robbins’ In The Night and Fancy Free; the Sylvie Guillem role in William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, and Jiří Kylián’s Petite Mort and Sinfonietta. In 2018 she was invited to perform at the Suzhou Ballet Gala in Suzhou, China. Julia has also been a member of Santa Monica, CA-based Barak Ballet since 2017 and has toured with them to the Joyce Theater in New York.  She is the recipient of the 2014 BRAZZY Award for outstanding female dancer and is an entrepreneur and writer.

Christian Tworzyanski

Christian Tworzyanski was born December 8, 1984 in Lake Ronkonkoma, New York. When he was two years old his family moved to South Carolina. He discovered his love for dance while attending Calvert Brodie Studios. At the age of fifteen he moved to New York City to study full time at the School of American Ballet. Upon graduating he was engaged as an apprentice with the New York City Ballet, and after a year he joined the company as a member of the corps de ballet. During his eleven years there he danced featured roles in numerous Balanchine and Robbins’ ballets. He also had the opportunity of working alongside choreographers including Christopher Wheeldon, Alexei Ratmansky, Benjamin Millepied, Wayne McGregor, Douglas Lee, Mauro Bigonzetti, and Justin Peck. In the fall of 2013 Christian joined Les Ballets de Monte Carlo, under the direction of Jean-Christophe Maillot, and within a year he was promoted to soloist. During his time with the company he had the privilege of working with renowned choreographers such as Jiří Kylián, Marco Goecke, Nacho Duato, Natalia Horecna, Jeroen Verbruggen, and Jean-Christophe Maillot. After spending five valuable years with the company, Christian has decided to return to New York where he will explore the world of freelancing. This is his fourth year to work as a répétiteur for Justin Peck and it has been a great and fulfilling experience doing so!

About The Nutcracker!

The Nutcracker follows a young girl, Clara, through her adventures on Christmas Eve during a party visited by her mysterious Uncle Drosselmeyer.  Life size dolls and toy soldiers create an evening that grows even more fantastical as she falls asleep and witnesses toy soldiers battling mice and rats.  A journey through the Land of Snow leads her to a world led by the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, and filled with dancing candies and sweets performing for her and her soldier prince.

“We are so excited to present The Nutcracker once again for the Northern Colorado community”, says executive director, Jenna Riedi, “And in addition to our usual fabulous weekend of performances, we are including two additional opportunities to enjoy and celebrate this amazing holiday tradition:  an abbreviated Nutcracker for those looking for a shorter experience, and a Nutcracker Tea!”

Canyon Concert Ballet Presents:  37^th Annual The Nutcracker

Lincoln Center Main Stage

Friday, December 7, 2018 at 7pm
Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 2pm and at 7pm
Sunday, December 9 at 1pm and at 6pm

Tickets:  $28 – $35

Canyon Concert Ballet presents their 37th annual production of The Nutcracker ballet. With a dazzling score by Tchaikovsky performed by the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra, this is a rare chance to see a classical ballet accompanied by a live, full orchestra in Fort Collins. This iconic holiday story is sure to please audiences of all ages with mystery, battles, and beautiful ballerinas in sparkling tutus.  In addition to the Fort Collins Symphony, Canyon Concert Ballet also welcomes guest artists to play the Sugar Plum and her Cavalier.

Tickets are on sale at:  https://www.lctix.com/nutcracker-37th-annual

Bundle with The Little Mermaid and save!  https://www.lctix.com/ccb-season-package

In additional to the full production, Canyon Concert Ballet has added two exciting new opportunities around this fabulous holiday tradition:

Educational The Nutcracker Matinees

Lincoln Center Main Stage

Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 11am and at 2pm

Tickets:  $15 – $20

Experience The Nutcracker in one hour in these condensed matinee shows for the young and young at heart!  These performances are perfect for young families, those who have never experienced a ballet production before, and anyone who would enjoy a shorter show that still tells the beautiful story of Clara and her Nutcracker!  Please note, these shows will not feature the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets are on sale at:  https://www.lctix.com/nutcracker-educational-matinee

Canyon Concert Ballet Presents:  The Nutcracker Tea

Lincoln Center Columbine Room

Saturday, December 8 from 12:30-1:30pm

Tickets:  $20 – $25

Enjoy an afternoon High Tea with music, photos with Nutcracker dancers, prize drawings, and of course and assortment of pastries, fruit, cakes, and wonderful teas provided by Happy Lucky’s Teahouse. Guests are encouraged to dress up and bring their favorite doll to join them.  Bundle with The Nutcracker performance at 2pm for a discount!

Tickets are on sale at:  https://www.lctix.com/nutcracker-tea

Bundle with The Nutcracker Ballet and save:  https://tickets.lctix.com/BundlePurchase_Qty.asp?BundleID=71