Edmond’s Nutcracker coming to Rose State College Dec. 7-8

Enjoy a magical performance of the timeless holiday ballet Dec. 7-8

By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon

Experience the magic of the holiday season with Edmond’s Nutcracker this December at the Rose State Performing Arts Center.

Performances are scheduled for Dec. Saturday, 7 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at edmondsnutcracker.com.

The show is presented by Oklahoma Dance Center, Oklahoma Youth Ballet, and Oklahoma Youth Arts Foundation.

The production was created by artistic director, Joshua Brooksher. The show features classical ballet that brings out the best in the cast, said Savannah Lee, co-owner of Oklahoma Dance Center.

“We stick to a classical ballet. If you read the book and see our production, you’ll know exactly what is happening,” Lee said. “One of the differences with our production is the way we train the kids. They really enjoy themselves on stage.”

Lee said one of the highlights of the show is the “party scene.”

“Joshua (Brooksher) does an amazing job of getting people involved and making it exciting,” Lee said. “The party scene is great and shows kids and parents having fun on stage.”

The show features more than 50 dancers of all ages. A team of volunteers have made the production possible. Several people have helped with everything from fundraising and promotion to set design and creating costumes.

This is the second year for Edmond’s Nutcracker. Last year, they performed at Oklahoma Christian University. They planned to return to OC, but a scheduling mix-up left them scrambling a few months ago. Lee said they soon found a home at Rose State Performing Arts Center with help from board members and college leaders.

“Our hub is in Edmond but we’re very grateful to Rose State for allowing us to do the show here,” Lee said. “Everyone has been very kind and accommodating and I think we’ll be here for years to come.”

The Midwest City location also fits into plans to promote dance and ballet throughout the metro.

“We want to broaden our performances and want to offer free shows and bring more dance to schools,” Lee said. “Oklahoma is not known for fine arts, but we want to show that you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars and ship your kids off to a dance school.”

Oklahoma Dance Center is a dance school that caters to students of all levels. Oklahoma Youth Ballet is a day program that is designed to provide pre-professional training for students who aspire to have a career in ballet. The Oklahoma Dance Center also offers evening recreational classes.

Students perform at various events throughout the year. Edmond’s Nutcracker is their largest annual show and includes community members in the cast.

Oklahoma Dance Center is opening a new location in downtown Edmond. It is expected to open in January 2025.

“We’re busting at the seams in our current place, and we’re excited for our grand opening,” Lee said.

The Oklahoma Youth Arts Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports the programs.

Rose State College Performing Arts Center is located at 6000 S. Prosper Blvd. in Midwest City.

For more information, email [email protected].