‘The Nutcracker’ returns to Buhach Colony High School

The Merced Academy of Dance will bring Peter Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” to life once again this holiday season, with performances starting Friday at the Buhach Colony High School Theater in Atwater.

The academy has been performing the full-length classic ballet for 17 years. This year 150 cast members, including Merced Civic Ballet Company dancers and local residents ages 3 to 58, are participating.

Six performances will be offered. Three will be open to the public, and three will be presented for about 1,400 students from local schools.

Director Jane Vann-Bryan said her favorite part about performing for local students is the question-and-answer session afterward, where she finds most students have never seen a ballet prior to “The Nutcracker.”

Friday’s and Saturday’s public showings start at 7 p.m. Sunday’s matinee will start at 2 p.m.

This year’s male lead dancer is Wally Lane, 32, of Modesto, who will take on the roles of Uncle Drosselmeyer, the Snow King and the Sugar Plum Fairy’s Cavalier. Female lead dancers are Michael Terry, 16, of Merced, who will perform as the Snow Queen, and Tatum Avalos, 16, who will play the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Merced’s Jeremy Gleeson, 21, will star as this year’s Nutcracker. Isabella Knittel, 18, will play the young Clara.

“Everyone works so hard, and they are so willing to give their all, regardless of their busy school schedules,” Vann-Bryan said of the actors and dancers, most of whom are high school students. “It’s very inspiring to see kids that age be so mature and organized.”

Vann-Bryan said this year’s level of performance has been raised partly due to the participation of new dance instructor David Arce, who recently retired from the San Francisco Ballet. Arce works with the dancers once a week and focuses on pas de deux, or step of two, which helps performers with their dance duets.

The show also will include a new magical sleigh and more than 400 costumes. A sugar plum pantry, with homemade goods, ornaments and crafts, will offer items for sale. Proceeds go toward annual ballet scholarships.

This story was originally published December 4, 2014 at 6:30 PM with the headline "‘The Nutcracker’ returns to Buhach Colony High School."