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The holidays continue

| 07 Jan 2014 | 05:55
    Photo credit: Sondra Hall Featuring Dennis Van Dunk as Drosselmeyer and the Mouse King; guest artist, Pierson Hall, as The Nutracker/Prince; Olivia Nosarzewski as Clara; and Ethan Hall as a Toy Soldier. Not pictured is Fiona Daly as The Snow Princess.
    Photo credit: Sondra Hall Featuring Dennis Van Dunk as Drosselmeyer and the Mouse King; guest artist, Pierson Hall, as The Nutracker/Prince; Olivia Nosarzewski as Clara; and Ethan Hall as a Toy Soldier. Not pictured is Fiona Daly as The Snow Princess.

VERNON, N.J. — Inspired by the German author E.T.A. Hoffman, "A Holiday Fairy Tale" is the latest interpretation of the famous story set to Tchaikovsky's enchanting melodies. It has been retold and choreographed by Margueritte McNeilly, the director of the Hudson Valley Dance Center of Warwick for a performance this Sunday, Jan. 12, at 2 p.m. in the Vernon Township High School Auditorium.

"We have a very talented group of dancers this season," McNeilly said in the press release announcing the performance, "and the Vernon High School is a convenient location with a spectacular environment for both the audience and the children."

Often directors decide upon a production then cast the characters, but McNeilly evaluates her students first then decides upon what kind of performance would best match their skills.

"This production is more about the kids than the story," she added. "It's really a reflection of them."

The plot
This story is a familiar one:

On Christmas Eve a little girl falls asleep after a party at her home and dreams about a fantastic world where toys, like the Nutcracker she received as a gift, come to life.

But this production is unique. The dancers are an expressive groups of young men and women who are certain that attendees will appreciate their ballet skills, including the party scene and fight between the Mouse King and the Toy Soldiers.

Essential information
Tickets are available at the door, for $15 each, general admission.

The Hudson Valley Dance Center of Warwick (thehudsonvalleydancecenterofwarwick.com) is a comprehensive dance studio for both adults and children. It offers ballet sculpt, stretch and tone classes for adults, together with a full schedule of dance classes from mommy and me toddlers to adults at the Warwick studio.

McNeilly has trained under some of the most famous dance instructors in the world including Peter Martins, Jacques D'Amboise and others, and has performed leading roles in the United States and abroad in "Grease," "A Chorus Line" and other well-known Broadway shows.