Ballet Atlantic and their Family Favorite, the “Nutcracker” performed in Downtown New Rochelle
For the first time, Ballet Atlantic’s annual family favorite, the “Nutcracker Ballet” will be performed downtown this holiday season on Friday, December 10th at 8:30 PM and Saturday, December 11th at 11:00 AM at 306 Huguenot Street, thanks to the generosity of downtown property owners Gary Garafola and Susan Friedman. This is Ballet Atlantic’s 36th year producing the Nutcracker based on the story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” by E.T.A. Hoffman with music by Tchaikovsky.
An accomplished ballet troupe and popular dance academy, Ballet Atlantic has taken up full-time residence in downtown New Rochelle at the BID’s Artist Studios (Rental information: 914-960-1460) at 81 Center Avenue, in 10,000 square feet of newly renovated space for artists and art businesses directly opposite Talner Jewelry Store.
Ballet Atlantic Company, founded forty years ago by Director Leslie Otto, inspires an excitement for dance. Leslie studied at the School of American Ballet in New York City under the inimitable George Balanchine. Leslie attended The Performing Arts High School where she danced under the guidance of Robert Joffrey, founder of the Robert Joffrey Ballet. Additionally, Leslie studied with and began a life-long relationship with the American Ballet School and Theatre; to this day you can find Leslie performing as an extra or working behind the scenes on the Metropolitan Opera Stage at Lincoln Center.
Ballet Atlantic Company has performed many well received, full-length classics among them, Don Quixote, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Copelia, Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake. Alison Otto, the innovative resident choreographer, has challenged the Company with a wide repertoire of original contemporary works.
Ballet Atlantic is also well known in the region for its excellent school where Leslie has brought her fervent passion and technical know-how to dance instruction as well as sensitivity and caring to her founding mission to allow children of all talents and ages (yes, this includes adults) to pursue, in a nurturing environment, their love of dance. CLICK HERE to see a video from Dancefest.
Classes at Ballet Atlantic include all levels of instruction, from the earliest beginner to the most advanced. Meeting Leslie’s goal to make ballet and dance as inclusive and fun as possible Ballet Atlantic provides many diverse opportunities to become involved as dancers, extras, character role actors, audience members, scenery making, costuming and, of course, patrons. Something for everyone in the family; this is why Ballet Atlantic remains a favorite tradition for an ever growing number of families, and rising ballet stars.
The Ballet Atlantic School and Company has found a new home in a beautiful studio located at the BID Artist Studios at 81 Center Street in downtown New Rochelle. Ballet Atlantic will be celebrating their move to downtown New Rochelle by performing their holiday classic, the “Nutcracker”, now in its 36th season, at their new spacious and light studio.
Leslie is accessible and is always happy to hear from the public. You can call her on her cell phone: 914-522-0960.
