'Nutcracker' performances set for December at TJC

Performances of Tyler Junior College Academy of Dance's 18th annual production of Tchaikovsky's classic ballet, "The Nutcracker," are scheduled for Friday-Sunday, Dec. 1-3, in TJC's Wise Auditorium.

Full-length performances will be held 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 1 and 2, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3. A special, storytelling version for young children -- narrated by TJC history instructor Dr. Jeffrey Owens -- is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2.

Tickets are on sale in the TJC cashier's office located in the White Administrative Services building. Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $8 for TJC students (with valid ID), senior citizens and children under age 6.

For more information, call the cashier's office at 903-510- 2672.

The production is under the guidance of director/first choreographer Jennifer Bailey and second choreographer Ashlie M. Contos.

Guest artists Arina Kolotova and Konstantin Kolotov of Corpus Christi will be in the leading roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier.

A native of St. Petersburg, Russia, Arina Kolotova studied at the Vaganova Academia of Dance and graduated with a diploma from Perm Academy of Ballet. She danced with the Classical Ballet of St. Petersburg and has performed in many major classical ballets such as Aurora the sleeping princess, Song Bird the yellow fairy, and Diamond in "Sleeping Beauty," and Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy in the holiday classic, "The Nutcracker."

As a principal dancer, she has toured throughout New Zealand, Australia and many European countries.

Konstantin Kolotov, also from St. Petersburg, Russia, received his training from the State College of Choreography in Novosibirsk, Russia, where he graduated with honors.

He then danced at the Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Sverdlovsk, Russia, the Theatre of Contemporary Ballet and the Theatre of Classical Ballet in St. Petersburg.

His repertoire includes Siegfrid from "Swan Lake," Albrecht in "Giselle," the Cavalier in "The Nutcracker," and the pas de deux from "Paquita," "Don Quixote" and "Le Corsaire." Kolotov has toured extensively in Ecuador, Bolivia and throughout Europe, and is in demand as a guest artist and master instructor throughout the U.S.