School of Ballet has made ‘The Nutcracker’ a holiday tradition in Belleville for 40 years

The Belleville School of Ballet’s annual “The Nutcracker” has been an anticipated event for 40 years. Founder Patti Woods Harrington thinks the main reason is that memories are made that bring joy to people of different ages.

“It’s about making memories for generations. Families come together to attend the show, which is filled with joy and wonder,” she said.

It is also special for those involved, a time-honored tradition that people remember fondly if they return multiple times.

“It’s fun to watch the kids’ blossom. They might have been a Snowflake when they started, and now they’re something else. We have dancers who started at age 6 or 7 who are now in high school. We have alumni who are moms, and they want their daughters to be in it,” Harrington said.

For all involved, there is a sense of community that develops whether they are striving for personal achievement or cultural enrichment, she noted.

Three performances will take place this Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 23 and 24, at the Love Church at 1549 Frank Scott Parkway West in Belleville, with 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. shows on Saturday, and at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Tchaikovsky’s classic suite, first performed as a two-act ballet in 1892, is a story that takes place on Christmas Eve at the foot of a Christmas tree and is sprung from a child’s imagination. Young Clara travels to the Kingdom of the Sweets, where she interacts with the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Nutcracker Prince, the Mouse King, Snowflakes, Soldiers, a dancing bear and mice.

An adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s 1816 short story, “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” the ballet gained in popularity across the country as a Christmas tradition after the New York City Ballet gave its first annual performance in 1954.

The Belleville School of Ballet, which started in 1983, first performed a shorter version of “The Nutcracker” the next year at West Junior High School and continued for two more years. The production then moved to the Scottish Rite Masonic Lodge’s larger auditorium. After the building was sold in 2019, and with a break for the pandemic, the company has worked with Love Church ever since.

“They have made improvements and are lovely people to work with. We are very grateful for their support,” Harrington said.

The company has always stressed collaboration, and a special relationship has also developed with the Belleville Philharmonic Orchestra accompanying the performance.

Christopher Gass is returning to conduct the special anniversary production, which Harrington said she is thrilled about. He is the Philharmonic’s Youth Orchestra conductor and the music director at Freeburg Community High School.

“The kids have a wonderful opportunity to work with a live orchestra. Less than 11% of companies putting on ‘Nutcracker’ use live music these days,” Harrington said. “We’re in the middle of America, and we have a live orchestra. That’s amazing.”

Another relationship fostered over the years is with professional dancers, with whom she has worked for 30 years or more.

The cast typically includes about 80 dancers and actors, with four professional dancers from St. Louis and two guest artists from the American Ballet Theatre in New York City, not to mention people behind the scenes.

“The professional dancers are very important and very special,” she said. “They are very kind to the kids, very complimentary. They look forward to participating.”

The ballet requires much advanced preparation, not to mention 120-125 costumes. They start working on the show in August, with casting completed by the end of September. She mentioned the importance of volunteers.

“All these people come together. This is what it’s all about,” she said. “To see all the kids really excited, and to be able to offer this to the community is really meaningful.”

For a loyal audience who returns year after year, Harrington said they like to “mix it up” with slight changes so it’s not the exact same show they saw before.

“It could be different costumes, trying to do something to keep it fresh for the people,” she said.

Harrington was spellbound by ballet at an early age. Her parents arranged for her to take ballet lessons from a former professional dancer, who gave lessons in a basement at Scott Air Force Base. After that, her mother drove her to St. Louis a couple times a week for dance classes.

“As long as I did my homework and my grades were good, my parents’ let me go to dance,” she said.

She danced with several professional troupes and earned a college degree in business and marketing. Forty-one years ago, she opened the school at 310 E. Main St., the second floor of the Olde Towne Mall. For its first 10 years, she only offered ballet, but then added staff with extensive backgrounds in tap, jazz, lyrical and dance team.

“The Nutcracker” marks a milestone that Harrington is proud of, especially with all the cooperation she’s received over the years.

“It’s just wonderful to see everyone dressed up, making a day of it with their families,” she said. “We’re always the weekend before Thanksgiving. The church will be beautifully decorated, and we will have a Sugar Plum Fairy Boutique in the lobby. I look forward to everyone enjoying it.”

Tickets are available by calling 618-277-1373, at the website to download a ticket order form: www.bsoballet.com/nutcracker, at Local Lucy’s in downtown Belleville, and at the door.