Mankato Ballet Company invites community to annual Nutcracker performances

MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) - Members from the Mankato Ballet Company invite the community to this season’s remaining performances of The Nutcracker.

The ballet company’s annual Nutcracker features a total of 100 members between two different casts with dancers of all ages.

Organizers say there were 31 members from the Mankato Ballet Company who were featured in larger roles.

Some dancers were given their first leads this year.

“I remember since ... I was seven years old, I would always go to the big rehearsals where you get to watch all the big girls dance and I would watch Clara and I said, ‘oh my gosh, that’s what I want to be,’ said lead “Clara” and high school freshman Quinn Rassbach. “And it’s like so surreal that now it’s actually happening and it’s like a dream come true.”

High school dancers say that one of the best parts about being in the Nutcracker is seeing all the different age groups come together and communicating through dance.

“The community is amazing,” said high school junior and “Clara” co-lead, Grace Goedtke. “Everybody’s just so happy and we’re also supportive of each other and makes this so much better and so fun. I get to dance with a lot of really awesome people,”

The final Nutcracker performances will be on Sun., Dec. 1, at the Minnesota State University, Mankato, in the Ted Paul Theater at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the box office or online.

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