Before people learned to tiptoe around, everybody always knew exactly who was sneaking the pizza from the fridge at night. Appreciate even more skills of the pointed foot with today’s GrouponLive deal to see Ballet Long Island’s production of The Nutcracker. Single-act (55-minute) versions of the play will be presented at Ballet Long Island in Ronkonkoma on Wednesday, December 7, and full-length (105-minute) and nutshell (55-minute) versions will be presented at Islip Town Hall West December 14–18. Click here for a full schedule of performances. Choose from the following options:
- For $25, you get two adult tickets (a $50 value).
- For $39, you get a family four-pack of tickets for two adults and two children younger than 12 years old (an $82 value).
- For $49, you get a family four-pack of tickets (an $82 value) and VIP passes (a $20 value) for two adults and two children younger than 12 (a $102 total value). VIP passes entitle guests to a backstage tour and a meet-and-greet with the cast. This option is valid only for performances at Islip Town Hall West.<p>
Future coryphées emerge from their cocoons to ring in the holidays with professional dancers during a string of performances that reintroduce audiences of all ages to young Clara and her magical nutcracker. Artistic Director Debra Punzi taps into her 35 years of teaching experience to choreograph leaps and twirls that mirror the score’s dynamism as it carries the dancers away from the world of humans and into one of anthropomorphized mice and a dearth of rodent-control workers. Slippers slide across the stage as Clara’s strong-jawed companion comes to life and whisks her off to a land of milk and gumdrops ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy, who swirls gracefully across her homeland’s sticky ground.
With many of Ballet Long Island’s alumni having graduated to careers in ballet, film, and on Broadway, the chances of seeing a future star glide across the stage are as numerous as seeing a former star in a late-night used-car commercial. Families who score VIP passes can head backstage after the show for an exclusive tour and meet-and-greet with the stars, who happily sign autographs with their dexterous toes.
Ballet Long Island
The Ballet Center, Ballet Long Island, and The Theater Company all share one space and one mission: to provide opportunities for all people to experience the art of performance. Established in 1985, Ballet Long Island is a professional ballet company where seasoned dance instructors lead arts in education programs, an apprentice program, a trainee program, choreography, master classes, and workshops. Classes train toes to pas de basque in beginners classes for youth through professional-level pointe classes, and contemporary styles such as modern and hip-hop infuse choreography with vivacious rhythms and full-body flutters. Small class sizes ensure students can progress quickly with individual instruction, and a floating dance floor set on high-density foam absorbs shocks and reduces the chances of injury. As a nonprofit, The Ballet Center directs its funds to make it possible for community members to learn dance through scholarships and low tuition fees.
Performances in Ballet Long Island's repertoire include The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Snow White, The Sleeping Beauty, The Fantastic Toyshop, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Swan Lake Act II, Multicultural Celebration, Le Corsaire pas de deux, Don Quixote pas de deux, and original ballets choreographed for the company.