Evanston Dance Ensemble Dances The Nutcracker

Founded in 1997, the Evanston Dance Ensemble’s mission is to deepen the exposure to and appreciation of dance for highly talented and committed young performers and diverse audiences in the greater Chicago area. We’re excited to have them back for the 10th time to celebrate the holidays with us. They’ll be dancing the March, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Candy Canes (Russian Trepak), Tea (Chinese Dance), Dance of the Reed Flutes, Chocolate (Spanish Dance) and Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker.

Tchaikovsky wrote the ballet in 1892. The original production was not a success, but the 20-minute suite of dances was. In fact, it wasn’t until the piece was picked up as a Christmas tradition by numerous U.S. ballet companies in the 1960s that it became the phenomenon we know today. Many major ballet companies around the country generate around 40% of their operating budget from performances.

Also on the Holiday program are festive favorites like Sleigh Ride and Deck the Halls. The Evanston Children’s Choir will sing This Is Chanukah; and the North Shore Choral Society joins in performing Rutter’s Gloria and Williams’s Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas. Back again this year is the Evanston Symphony Holiday Gospel Choir, singing Quincy Jones's Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration.