This December, Lafayette Ballet Theatre (LBT) celebrates a major milestone: the 25th Anniversary Performance of The Nutcracker, a cherished Acadiana holiday tradition that has delighted audiences and inspired generations of young dancers.
For a quarter century, The Nutcracker has brought to life the timeless story of Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, and the Sugar Plum Fairy, and also given hundreds of local children the rare opportunity to perform alongside professional dancers in a full-length ballet.
To mark the anniversary year, LBT has partnered with the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, who will perform live alongside The Nutcracker dancers, making this year’s performance even more extraordinary.
Lafayette Ballet Theatre is Acadiana’s only professional classical ballet company, and was founded in 1982. LBT has been dedicated to making classical ballet accessible to children and families throughout Southwest Louisiana through professional training, scholarship programs, and community performances.
In addition to offering long-term scholarships and 28-week professional contracts to local artists, LBT also hosts A Night at the Ballet, an annual complimentary performance for underprivileged children and adults, ensuring that the beauty of live performance reaches every corner of the community.
“For 25 years, The Nutcracker has been more than a performance — it’s a reflection of our community’s heart,” said Shannon Heath, Co-Artistic Director, Lafayette Ballet Theatre. “Every dancer, every volunteer, every stitch in a tutu tells the story of Acadiana’s love for the arts.”
LBT’s story is as much about family legacy as it is about dance. The Heath sisters’ mother, Patty Heath and LBT seamstresses have been instrumental in costume’s designs and execution of more than 170 costumes for each production, with some tutus requiring over 90 hours of detailed handwork.
The studio’s roots trace back to the sisters’ grandmother, Mae Bernard, Lafayette’s first female builder and an accomplished architect. Mae and her husband, Cagle, donated and renovated their home by hand to house the original LBT studio, a gift that enabled the company to flourish without rent for its first 20 years. Mae also served as head seamstress for performances through the 1990s.
Over the decades, hundreds of dancers have trained and performed in LBT’s The Nutcracker. Many of those ballerinas have gone on to perform with prestigious companies such as Boston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Ballet Austin, and more. Through its discipline and artistry Lafayette Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker has not only elevated the cultural landscape of Acadiana but also helped inspire the next generation of artists, professionals, and community leaders.
The Nutcracker, presented by Lafayette Ballet Theatre with Acadiana Symphony Orchestra will be at Heymann Performing Arts Center in Lafayette, LA on December 13 and 14. Tickets are available at HeymannCenter.com
Share this:
