The St. Petersburg Ballet presents The Nutcracker

TICKETS General Admission: $30 Doors at 2pm | Show at 3pm Presented by the Academy of Ballet Arts, Inc. The story of the “Nutcracker” begins on a magical Christmas Eve in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1872. It is told through the eyes of an eccentric toymaker, Herr Drosselmeyer, and his beloved Goddaughter, Clara. Clara must find the courage to believe in the power of love for the enchanted Nutcracker Prince in order to save him from the evil Mouse King. The Ballet features dancing children, mischievous boys, a Siamese Warrior, toy soldiers, giant mice, sword fights, Snowflakes, Spanish dancers, Buffoons, Waltzing Flowers, and the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. About ABA The St. Petersburg Ballet Company is the official company-in-residence at the Academy of Ballet Arts Inc. (a 501(c)3 Nonprofit). The Academy has trained professional dancers since 1969 and provided professional productions through the St. Petersburg Ballet Company since 1971. In addition to our guest artists the two institutions have launched the careers of dozens of local residents: Calvin Royal III (Principal Dancer at American Ballet Theatre) Saela Rivera-Martinez (Houston Ballet) Eileen Gerdes (San Francisco Ballet) Danielle Glynn (Ballet Palm Beach); Marquis Floyd (Dance Theatre of Harlem, Bad Boys of Ballet) and Briana Reed (Former member of Alvin Ailey). An independent producer/presenter has rented the theater for this performance; it is not programmed by the Palladium at SPC. Whether in the main concert hall, Hough Hall with its unsurpassed new sound system, or kicking back in the intimate Side Door Cabaret, the historic Palladium Theater is consistently ranked as one of Tampa Bay’s best, most affordable venues for classical, jazz, blues, theatre, opera, comedy, dance, educational, literary, community events, and more. The Palladium, located in downtown St. Petersburg’s cultural center, is part of what makes Tampa Bay great.