Photo courtesy Leighton Chen
By Gretchen C. Van Benthuysen
One of the reasons this is the most wonderful time of the year is the abundance of holiday entertainment for families.
A perennial favorite is “The Nutcracker” and the American Repertory Ballet (ARB) has scheduled 15 performances at theaters around the state through Dec. 21, including two Dec. 7 at the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park. Other venues include McCarter Theatre Center, Princeton; the State Theatre New Jersey, New Brunswick, and the Patriots Theater at the War Memorial, Trenton.
“ARB’s ‘Nutcracker’ is a timeless family tradition and a wonderful way to celebrate the magic of the season,” said Julie Diana Hench, executive director. “It’s a great introduction for all ages to professional ballet and a treat for our dancers, knowing that it brings such joy to audiences year after year.”
Adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann’s story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” the ballet tells the story of a young girl named Clara and how a mysterious gift from her Uncle Drosselmeyer brings about enchanted dreams and fantastical scenes. The ARB production includes more than 100 performers from the company and its school.
ARB’s new ballet master Ian Hussey, a former principal dancer with the Pennsylvania Ballet, plays the mysterious Uncle Drosselmeyer.
Also in the cast is Jacey Schnappauf, 16, from the Shark River section of Neptune. She studied dance for 10 years, training under Nicholas and Shayne Mishoe, owners of the Academy of Dance Arts in Tinton Falls.
This is her first year with ARB as a trainee, a two-year bridge program, between the student phase of training and a professional career.
“My mom was a dancer and I started when I was 3,” she said. “I was 6 when I started at the Academy of Dance Arts.
“It was intense, but that’s where I refined my technique,” she said. “I loved it more and more and decided I wanted to do this full time.
“As my technique developed I could push myself and more opportunities opened up,” she said.
She enrolled in ARB’s summer dance intensives, lasting two to five weeks, and that led to the trainee invitation.
She said her parents, Melissa and Jim Schnappauf, have been very supportive of her choices, including leaving Shore Regional High School in West Long Branch after two years to pursue her dream. She is continuing her studies online.
“We look for talented dancers that show technical proficiency, artistic sensibilities and a desire to grow and learn in a professional environment,” Hench said. “A positive attitude and strong work ethic are also key for these students.
“From the beginning, we could see that Jacey is a very disciplined, dedicated and talented young dancer who is deeply invested into her dance education.”
This year, seven out of eight ARB2 dancers came from the trainee program. ARB2 is the development company where young dancers work directly with the main company.
“After that,” Jacey said, “you get offered a contract or find a new company.”
She has been looking into Ballet West, Salt Lake City, Utah, which she said is known for its tall dancers. Jacey is 5 feet 8 inches tall.
“Jacey is a committed and extremely focused student,” said Ian Hussey, ARB’s ballet master, who also portrays Uncle Drosselmeyer in the ballet. “Physically, she is gifted with rare length and, although being tall can sometimes be difficult for young dancers, she is quite technically strong.
“Additionally, Jacey has shown to be an eager learner. Her desire to improve every day has been apparent,” he said. “She also brings a positive spirit in a discipline that can often be incredibly challenging.”
Meanwhile, Jacey is really looking forward to Dec. 7. It’s her 17th birthday and she will be dancing at the Paramount Theatre, just a few miles from her hometown.
Look for her in the corps for “Waltz of the Snowflakes” and “Waltz of the Flowers.”
ARB was founded in 1963 by Audrée Estey as the Princeton Regional Ballet Company; the company turned professional in 1978 and was renamed Princeton Ballet Company. In 1990 it became the American Repertory Ballet. It also operates the Princeton Ballet School with studios in Cranbury, New Brunswick and Princeton.
Scheduled special guests for certain performances of the ARB’s “The Nutcracker” include two New York City Ballet dancers – soloist Unity Phelan (a former Princeton Ballet School student) as the Sugar Plum Fairy, accompanied by principal dancer Adrian Danchig-Waring – for two performances in Princeton. Also, five performances in New Brunswick feature an orchestra and the Princeton Girlchoir.
For tickets for Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, Dec. 7 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. performances: asburyparkhall.com or arballet.org.
