About The Show

The Nutcracker is a classical ballet that has become one of the most beloved and iconic holiday traditions worldwide. It features music from the Russian composer Tchaikovsky and tells the story of Clara, a young girl who receives a magical nutcracker doll from her godfather on Christmas Eve. That night, the Nutcracker comes to life, leading Clara on an enchanting holiday adventure.    

Our show on December 14th will be a unique adaptation, featuring selections from the original, while also incorporating numbers from various dance genres. Our recreational and company students have been rehearsing since September and they can’t wait to debut their routines! 

A New Performance Opportunity

In previous years, most of our students got one formal performance opportunity at our year-end Spring Recital. This year’s 25th anniversary special performance gives them two formal performances on stage, which we believe is incredibly valuable for building a child’s confidence! They learn to work through those pre-performance jitters, face their fears, and trust themselves. The excitement they share along the way truly makes it very special for everyone involved.   

Holiday Fun for The Whole Family

In addition to teaching kids valuable skills, this performance will create sweet holiday memories for our dancers. We know how special the holidays can be for children, and there’s something extra magical about the excitement of a holiday show. There’s an undeniable warmth that comes with being a part of something bigger than ourselves during this time of year. The twinkling lights, the familiar music, a spectacular growing tree, the costumes, and the joy of watching our students shine on stage—it’s a memory you’ll cherish as a family for years to come.

How To See The Show

We hope you’ll join us for a spectacular performance! See the show details and ticket information below! 

THE NUTCRACKER: Symphony of Dance
December 14th, 2024 | 2pm
Viles Auditorium at Cony High School
Purchase tickets here!

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We’ve got some upcoming performances and events on the calendar that are sure to get you in the holiday spirit! We can’t wait to tell you about them! Check out what’s happening below and be sure to add these events to your calendar! 

Augusta Holiday Tree Lighting Performance

On Saturday, November 25th, join us for one of Augusta’s most treasured holiday traditions! The City of Augusta will be kicking off the holiday season with fun activities all day long, closing out with the tree lighting and fireworks. Each year, our DUPC dancers and select classes perform at the tree lighting alongside the Central Maine Twirling Corps. The performance will happen at approximately 4pm in front of the Old Federal Building on Water Street. For a complete list of the entire day’s events, click here! 

Holiday Performance at the Inn at City Hall

Directly prior to the Tree Lighting, our dancers will also be performing at the assisted living facility across the street from Old Fort Western. While this performance is not open to the public, we are excited for our dancers to experience the magic of giving and sharing their love of dance with the residents at the Inn. Follow along on our Facebook page for pictures of the event! 

You’re Invited to a Nutcracker Tea Party on Saturday, December 9th.

Again, this is one of our favorite traditions for creating holiday magic in our community! Each year, we host a marvelous event that gives our youngest guests a chance to journey into the land of sweets. The event will consist of a Nutcracker-inspired ballet class, crafts, and a tea party. Click here to learn more and save your child’s spot! 

DUPC Performance at the Maine Bulldogs Game

After heading to our Nutcracker Tea Party on Saturday, December 9th, come join us for a performance at the Maine Bulldogs vs. 518 Ballers. The game starts at 4pm at the Kennebec Valley YMCA. Our DUPC Mini Team will be performing at halftime and they’d love to have some supporters cheering them on in the audience! Purchase tickets here! 

Have you marked your calendars yet?! The upcoming months are going to be busy for our dancers… but so magical! We’d love to see some familiar faces at these performances in Augusta.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our DU Families. We are grateful for YOU!

The post Light Up the Holidays with Us! appeared first on Dance Unlimited, LLC.

Here are 4 Ways That We Are Creating JOY This Holiday Season:

1. Nutcracker Tea at Dance Unlimited

The Nutcracker is every dancer’s FAVORITE holiday tradition. Because theatres and dance companies haven’t been able to host live performances due to COVID-19, it was the perfect year to enjoy this holiday tradition in a NEW way.

This past Saturday we hosted a Nutcracker Tea event for our dance families. This magical event included a Nutcracker inspired ballet class, crafts, and a tea party, all in a safe and healthy environment.  

Click here to see some of the magic we captured at our Nutcracker Tea.

2. A Virtual Performance from our DUPC Dancers!

For 20+ years, Dance U has performed at the Augusta Holiday Tree Lighting to kick off the Holiday season. COVID-19 interrupted that tradition this year, but that doesn’t stop us from being innovative and taking advantage of every opportunity to perform! We have been hard at work rehearsing and filming our favorite holiday tradition, our HOT CHOCOLATE tap routine and added a new favorite – a variation of the Nutcracker’s Sugar Plum Fairy.  We are so thankful to utilize the Colonial Theatre this year for filming during its restoration.

Click here to view our AMAZING performances from our DUPC dancers! 

3. PJ Day Dance Challenge

Being thankful and giving back is such an important part of holiday magic! It reminds us that true holiday joy is about being kind, not presents and toys. So this year our dancers participated in the Pajama Day Dance Challenge to support Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. 

In just two days, we were able to donate $500 dollars to the cause! And just because cancer doesn’t only happen in Connecticut, we have also made a $500 donation to the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital right here in Maine! Click HERE to see our students’ challenge dance on Tik Tok and click HERE to contribute to this AMAZING cause! 

4. Dance Unlimited Food Drive

One of the best ways to create joy both within ourselves, AND within the community is to help others in need. This year, more than ever before, families in our community are struggling. That’s why we have paired with some local businesses to create a food pantry project this year. 

We are now accepting donations at the studio through December 15th. Drop off any non-perishable food item at the front desk! You can also make a financial donation which will be used to purchase items to donate. Thank you in advance for taking part in this special effort!  

When looking for holiday joy during a pandemic, we couldn’t help but reflect upon what the season is really about. Presents are fun, visits with Santa are cute, and Christmas cookies are yummy. But spreading joy and love to others is what makes the season special. 

The holidays in Augusta are going to look different this year, but just like the rest of the year, we are determined to make the best of the circumstances! Putting extra emphasis on giving back during a tough year has reminded us of how special our dance families are!

From all of us here at Dance Unlimited, happy holidays! May YOU continue to find JOY this season! 

The post 4 Ways We Are Still Finding Joy This Holiday Season appeared first on Dance Unlimited, LLC.