Sole City Dance celebrates 20 years of The Nutcracker Ballet in Rochester

Sole City Dance is bringing its annual performance of "The Nutcracker Ballet" to the Rochester Opera House from Dec. 4-7, according to a community announcement.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Sole City Dance's rendition of the ballet, which is known for its blend of traditional choreography and Tchaikovsky's score, along with some modern twists.

The production will feature a mix of students from various local studios, with both young and advanced dancers sharing the stage.

A highlight of this year's performance is the return of the character Mother Ginger, who will appear as a ringmaster, releasing young circus performers from beneath her tent-like skirt.

In addition to the classic ballet choreography, the show will include acro and aerial dance performances, offering a diverse range of talent.

Emma Guertin and Clay Murray, professional guest artists from Ballet Rhode Island, will perform the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier.

Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Dec. 4 and 5, and at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Dec. 6, with a final show at 1 p.m. on Dec. 7.

Tickets can be purchased at rochesteroperahouse.com , by calling (603) 335-1992, or by visiting the box office at 1 Wakefield St., Rochester.

This story was created by Kimberly Green, kgreen@gannett.com , with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct .

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Sole City Dance's Nutcracker at Rochester Opera House