Eugene Ballet gives fresh take on holiday 'Nutcracker' at Hult Center

Chris Pietsch, Register-Guard
·1 min read
Dancers with the Eugene Ballet company, dressed as Snowflakes, rehearse a newly choreographed snow scene in the first act of "The Nutcracker" Thursday on the Hult Center stage.
Dancers with the Eugene Ballet company, dressed as Snowflakes, rehearse a newly choreographed snow scene in the first act of "The Nutcracker" Thursday on the Hult Center stage.

The Eugene Ballet company returns to the stage with its seasonal run of "The Nutcracker" at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts.

The ballet, with support from the Eugene Ballet Academy dancers, rehearsed its production on the Hult Center stage this week in preparation for its seven-performance run that kicked off Friday.

Dancers with The Eugene Ballet company wait in the wings for their cue to take the stage during a Thursday rehearsal of "The Nutcracker" at the Hult Center.
Dancers with The Eugene Ballet company wait in the wings for their cue to take the stage during a Thursday rehearsal of "The Nutcracker" at the Hult Center.

The production by Eugene Ballet Artistic Director Toni Pimble includes new costumes, characters and choreography. The company partnered with Orchestra Next under the direction of Brian McWhorter to provide live music for the production.

The show opens Friday, with performances continuing Saturday and Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday at the Hult Center. Tickets are on sale at eugeneballet.org, at the Hult Center Ticket Office and by calling 541-682-5000. Youth and college tickets (with valid ID) are available for $15, and adult tickets start at $25.

Dancers with the Eugene Ballet Academy warm up backstage before Thursday rehearsal for "The Nutcracker" at the Hult Center.
Dancers with the Eugene Ballet Academy warm up backstage before Thursday rehearsal for "The Nutcracker" at the Hult Center.

Contact photographer Chris Pietsch at chris.pietsch@registerguard.com, or follow him on Twitter @ChrisPietsch and Instagram @chrispietsch. Want more stories like this? Subscribe to get unlimited access and support local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Eugene Ballet gives fresh take on 'The Nutcracker' at Hult Center