Maria Jessee of Roanoke was one of the dancers in Butler Ballet’s 30th-annual performance of “The Nutrcracker” on Nov. 29-Dec. 2 at Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University.

Butler Ballet’s 30th-annual performance of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet featured 124 dancers, including 34 young dancers from the Indianapolis community.

This year’s Nutcracker featured the Butler Symphony Orchestra performing the score. Morgan Sicklick, a senior from Woodcliff Lake, N.J., and Danielle Morano, a senior from St. James, N.Y., shared the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Justin Metcalf-Burton (senior, Gaithersburg, Md.) and Matthew Doolin (senior, Jacksonville, Fla.) danced as the Nutcracker.

Patrick Green (senior, Washington, D.C.) and George Vargas (junior, Grasonville, Md.) played the Snow King. Katherine Currier (junior, Norwich, Vt.) and Coleen Rhea (Flemington, N.J.) were the Snow Queen.

The Dew Drop Fairy was danced by Shelby Shenkman (junior, Boca Raton, Fla.) and Mónica Muñoz (senior, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico), and Stuart Coleman (junior, Lynchburg, Va.) and Christian Griggs-Drane (junior, Richmond, Va.) played the Cavalier.

Margaret Carey (junior, Dayton, Ohio) danced the role of Clara, and Christiaan Ruff (sophomore, Durham, N.C.) portrayed Fritz.

James Cramer ’81, community relations manager at Clowes Hall, danced the role of Drosselmeyer.

As always, all Butler Dance faculty had a hand in the choreography, including Cynthia Pratt, Marek Cholewa, Stephan Laurent, Susan McGuire, Derek Reid, Associate Dean of the Jordan College of the Arts Michelle Jarvis, and Visiting Professor Michael J. Johnson.

– Submitted by Butler University