Kris Sakakeeny, a weekday reporter for WMUR-TV 9, had a different ambition as a child, but her feet wouldn’t cooperate.
“I always wanted to try ballet, but I was born pigeon-toed, so my turn-out was dreadful,” said Sakakeeny, who nonetheless gets to live out a childhood dream of sorts this weekend as the celebrity guest star of Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater’s production of “The Nutcracker” at the Palace Theatre in downtown Manchester.
In a show set for 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, Sakakeeny will portray the iconic role of Mother Ginger in the seasonal staple, donning a garish mask of makeup and a huge hoop skirt, from which a handful of comical polichinelle dancers will emerge.
Though she wasn’t suited for pointe work, Sakakeeny did begin dance instruction in other styles, including jazz, modern, ballroom and tap, in Boston at 12. She concentrated on tap and was able to study at the Leon Collins Studio with instructors who were in the movie “Tap” and took master classes with tap master Savion Glover. While attending Boston University, she co-founded the tap company BU on Tap.
“I love supporting the arts, especially here in New Hampshire,” she said. “Dance was a major source of pride and happiness for me as a teen and a young woman as I hope it is for the dancers at Southern NH Dance Theater.”
Over the years it has become a tradition for the dance company to invite local figures, both male and female, to tackle the role of Mother Ginger in Act II of the holiday classic. The roster over the years has included The New Hampshire Union Leader’s John Clayton and WZID radio’s Mike Morin, the latter of whom will return to the Palace Theatre’s stage in shows at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27, and Saturday, Nov. 28.
“We are so excited that (Sakakeeny) will join our celebrity cast this year, “ said Patricia Lavoie, artistic director for Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater. “She has a very strong dance background so she is a very welcome addition, and the other cast members in the production can’t wait to perform with her.”
A classical ballet in two acts, “The Nutcracker” is based upon the fairy tale by E.T.A. Hoffman. It is the story of a young girl named Clara who receives a special Christmas gift from her godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer — a handsome Nutcracker doll. After the family goes to bed on Christmas Eve, Clara gets up to retrieve her beloved Nutcracker and an evening of magic and wonderment unfolds. Drosselmeyer brings the nutcracker doll to life and a battle with an evil Mouse King ensues. Clara helps her nutcracker defeat the Mouse King. Drosselmeyer then transforms him into a handsome young man who leads Clara through an Enchanted Snow Forest to the Palace of Sweets where she is entertained by a number of exotic dances and a beautiful pas de deux by the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier.
For this production, The Palace Festival Orchestra, led by Robert Babb, again will provide the pivotal score by Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
“Southern NH Dance Theater’s performance is incredible and truly professional,” stated Peter Ramsey, executive director of the Palace Theatre. “They have several world-renowned guest artists, including Boston Ballet principal dancer Carlos Molina, dancing the lead roles. This is not just another ballet recital. It is a beautiful show and a true holiday tradition.”
Molina, originally from Colombia, has been a principal dancer with the Boston Ballet since 2004. He previously served as a principal dancer with Hartford Ballet and soloist with American Ballet Theatre. He will be partnering the Sugar Plum Fairy, who will be played by Lauren Stewart and Elisabeth Wilson.
Stewart, of Suzanne Farrell Ballet, is a Boston native who received her early dance training at Southern NH Dance Theater. In 2004, while training at Ballet Academy East in New York City, Stewart was invited to perform with American Ballet Theater in “Romeo and Juliet” at the Kennedy Center. She also has performed with both the Cincinnati Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet.
“We have an amazing talent with all the guest artists we have cast, but Lauren Stewart is the one we are most excited about — she is from Manchester and she is a truly exceptional and accomplished ballerina,” Lavoie said.
Bafana Solomon Matea also is a returning guest artist to this year’s “Nutcracker” cast. Originally from South Africa, he studied under scholarship at the Alvin Ailey Dance School in New York, and is dancing with the Battery Dance Company of New York City. He will be featured as Soldier Doll and Mouse King in Act 1, and as Candy Cane soloist and Arabian Soloist in Act 2.
Thomas Ortiz, another Southern NH Dance Theater alumni, will perform a variety of roles, including Soldier Doll, Mouse King and Spanish Variation. Ortiz graduated from Marymount Manhattan College and is working with Chet Walker at WalkerDance and preparing for a Joyce SoHo season with Kim Givilisco Dances. Fredrick Davis, a newcomer to the Palace Theatre stage, will perform the roles of Snow King and Arabian Soloist. Davis is a member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble in New York. He has danced with North Star Ballet in Alaska and Albany Berkshire Ballet in Massachusetts.
Southern NH Dance Theater will have several artists-in-residence return to the production. Douglas Davis will dance the role of Drosselmeyer in Act I. Davis has danced in both the United States and Europe with the Los Angeles Ballet, Frankfurt Ballet, Zurich Ballet and Bern Ballet. Sallie Werst, who will perform the roles of Spanish and Arabian Soloist, has danced with Bossov Ballet Theater, Vermont Chamber Ballet and the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. She also studied in New York City at Ballet Academy East with Darla Hoover and several renowned choreographers. Melissa Desrosiers will return as the Grandmother in the party scene.
Southern New Hampshire Dance Theatre will present “The Nutcracker” at 7:30 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. and 4 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; and 1 and 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $15 to $45. For details, call 668-5588 or log onto www.palacetheatre.org.
