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Burnaby dancers onstage in Metro Vancouver Nutcracker shows

Yes, Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy are back — and they're coming soon to a stage near you.
burnaby-ballet-dancers
Four young dancers from Burnaby's HZ Ballet Classique are onstage in three Nutcracker productions in Metro Vancouver this season: Royal City Youth Ballet, Goh Ballet and Royal Winnipeg Ballet.

Christmas isn't Christmas without the Nutcracker.

If you're one of those people who can't kick off the holiday season without seeing Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy dance to Tchaikovsky's iconic music, then you're in luck: you have three separate Nutcracker productions to choose from, and they all feature Burnaby dancers.

HZ Ballet Classique has four dancers cast in three separate Nutcracker productions this month.

Anastasia, 10, and Ksenia, 15, are onstage with Goh Ballet's Nutcracker at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Dec. 15 through 18.  

Alison, 14, is onstage with Royal City Youth Ballet in its Nutcracker production, which plays Dec. 10 and 11 at the Surrey Arts Centre and Dec. 18 at New Westminster's Massey Theatre.

Also back for 2022 is the Royal Winnipeg Ballet production, onstage at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Dec. 9, 10 and 11. HZ Ballet Classique dancer Keilana will join this lavish production by Canada's longest-running ballet company — she'll be one of the polar bears.

"After the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled live performances for the past two years,  we are thrilled to be once again participating in Nutcracker productions this season," wrote HZ Ballet Classique's Nadine Frankowski in an email to the Burnaby NOW.

Where to find Nutcracker productions in Metro Vancouver in December 2022

  • Royal Winnipeg Ballet: This iconic touring production, presented by Ballet BC, comes to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre stage Friday, Dec. 9 through Sunday, Dec. 11, with shows Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 1 and 6:30 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m. Tickets $21.50 to $140; buy online.
  • Goh Ballet: More than 200 dancers, actors and gymnasts join forces for the return of this popular Vancouver favourite, onstage Thursday, Dec. 15 through Sunday, Dec. 18 at the Queen  Elizabeth Theatre. Shows are Dec. 15, 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 17 and 18 at 2 p.m. Tickets  start at $57; buy online.
  • Royal City Youth Ballet: A cast of more than 50 young dancers returns in this popular Lower Mainland holiday tradition, playing at Surrey Arts Centre Dec. 10 and 11 and at New Westminster's Massey Theatre on Dec. 18. Surrey performances on Saturday, Dec. 10 and Sunday,  Dec. 11 at 1 and 4:30 p.m. both days. Tickets $48 regular, $36 seniors, $35 children and youth; buy online. New Westminster performances Sunday, Dec. 18 at 1 and 4:30 p.m. Tickets $44 to $59; buy online.

Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, jmaclellan@newwestrecord.ca