HOLIDAYS 2021
Professional dancers
join forces with area
talent throughout
the production.
HOLIDAY 2021: 1 7
It is pretty much
a given for every
community of
a certain size
to bring out
Tchaikovsky’s iconic The
Nutcracker ballet during the
holidays. However, not that
many can boast, like Brevard
can, of a production aglow
with lavish sets and costumes
straight from Russia, music
by a professional symphony
orchestra and an awardwinning
choreographer to pull
it all together … plus two very
important law enforcement
officials in the cast and a live
unicorn, to boot.
The magic is possible thanks to
Space Coast Ballet Company and
the people that support it in so
many ways.
“Private donations allowed
Space Coast Ballet Company
to have authentic sets, scenery
and costumes fabricated at the
Kirov Ballet in St. Petersburg,
Russia, specifically for the King
Center,” said Loretta Grella, vice
chairman of the all-volunteer
group that serves as resident
ballet company of the King
Center for the Performing Arts.
“The sets are truly spectacular.”
Leading the production is
artistic director Joseph Gatti,
founder and director of United
Ballet Theatre in Orlando.
“He is continually sought out
as a guest performer around the
world,” Grella said.
Gatti earned the Youth American
Grand Prix competition in New
York, where he received not
only a gold medal, but also a
scholarship to London’s Royal
Ballet School. He was nominated
in 2006 for best male dancer at
the prestigious Moscow ballet
competition Benois de la Danse
in Moscow and was principal
dancer for the Cincinnati Ballet
and the Corella Ballet and first
soloist for the Boston Ballet.
He is also a master teacher of
ballet and has taught at the
Ballet Philippines Company and
School, the National Capital
School of Ballet in Australia and
the Youth America Grand Prix. >>
The ballet’s mischief of mice
is composed of dancers from
area ballet schools, who are
encouraged to audition for a
part in the annual tradition.