Maryland Youth Ballet's "The Mini-Nut" Big Success

By Courtney Shirley

There is nothing small about the success of Maryland Youth Ballet’s “The Mini-Nut” this year.

All six shows (performed over two days on December 8 and 9th) sold out with the majority of the tickets selling out the Tuesday before the curtain went up.

“We had to turn away dozens of ticket requests,” explained MYB’s Executive Director, Alyce Jenkins. “On Saturday alone – the first day of the show—our office received more than 25 calls from people hoping to buy a last minute ticket.”

MYB’s “The Mini-Nut” is a delightful abbreviated version (less than an hour) of the non-profit’s classic, award winning, The Nutcracker, designed to introduce children to the magic of this family favorite. Each year this beloved holiday tradition, with soaring music by Tchaikovsky, captures the attention of even the youngest theatergoer.

This year MYB added a free but reserved “Meet & Greet” for groups with some of The Nutcracker dancers and many Girl Scout Daisy troops participated.  For next year, MYB plans to capitalize on the success of the “Meet & Greets” by making them fundraisers for the non-profit organization.

“The Mini-Nut continues to not only provide significant revenue but is becoming an annual tradition for the community,” Jenkins explained.

If you missed “The Mini-Nut” don’t worry. Tickets are still available for the full-length performance of The Nutcracker.

Choregraphed by Michelle Lees, MYB’s Principal, the production will be performed at the
Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center, Montgomery College, Rockville December 14th & 21st at 7:00 pm
and December 15th, 16th, 22nd & 23rd at 1:00 pm & 5:00 pm.

Voted both Outstanding Production in Classical Dance and Outstanding Youth Performance by Metro DC Dance Awards, Lees’ version of the holiday classic, now in its 23rd year, is a metropolitan area family favorite. 

There is something for everyone in this fun and engaging version of The Nutcracker—a huge cannon that fires at the mice, a beautiful growing Christmas tree, whirling flakes in a snowstorm, cute little Ginger Snaps peeking out of a huge Mother Ginger skirt, a lovely Sugar Plum dancing with her handsome Prince, and extraordinary costumed characters from the Kingdom of Sweets.

Click here for
 Ticket Information

ABOUT MARYLAND YOUTH BALLET

Since 1971, the mission of MYB has been to provide the highest caliber of training and performance opportunities to prepare young dancers for a career in the performing arts as well as to provide classes to dancers of all ages and levels in the community.

The MYB children’s program puts deliberate emphasis on pre-professional achievement with each level carefully crafted to provide the most comprehensive training and coaching in order to produce the high quality dancer that MYB is known for. MYB alumni are currently performing with such notable companies as American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Oregon Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, and Orlando Ballet, among others.

The MYB adult program, spanning levels from basic beginner through advanced, enjoys the same faculty as the children’s program, offering our adults the finest teachers of ballet, stretch, and classical core conditioning in the region.

MYB currently has more than 850 children and youth enrolled in its programs plus more than 700 adults taking classes weekly.

For more information about MYB visit: www.marylandyouthballet.org

To make a charitable donation please contact MYB’s Executive Director, Alyce Jenkins at: info@marylandyouthballet.org

To purchase tickets for The Nutcracker call 240-567-5301 or visit www.montgomerycollege.edu/PAC

Maryland Youth Ballet, 926 Ellsworth Drive

Silver Spring, MD 20910

301.608.2232