HOLIDAYS 2021
Becoming part of the company was
an easy decision for Gatti.
“I think it’s important to give back
to the community and SCBC has the
perfect model for doing just that,”
he said. “I love how SCBC supports
the community by giving students
the chance to perform on the King
Center stage.”
LOCAL DANCERS WELCOMED
More than 100 dancers from local
dance studios auditioned for The
Nutcracker this year and, under
Gatti’s tutelage, will perform
alongside professionals on the King
Center main stage.
This philosophy of highlighting
young, local talent along with
world-famous dancers, together
with a consistently high level of
performance and production, brings
audiences back to The Nutcracker
year after year.
This year, local dancers will have
the honor of performing alongside
principal guest artist Taras Domitro,
formerly a principal dancer with
the San Francisco Ballet and the
International Ballet of Cuba. He
was named best male dancer at the
Benoit de la Danse. Joining Domitro
is Adiarys Almeida, former principal
dancer with the Cincinnati Ballet
and the Corella Ballet in Spain. She
was also first soloist with the Boston
Ballet and the first Cuban female
dancer to be a finalist at the USA
International Ballet Competition.
Orchestrating the complex
production requires a huge team
effort of volunteers.
“It takes no less than a small army
18: SPACE COAST LIVING | SPACECOASTLIVING.COM
JASON HOOK
Joseph Gatti, founder and director of United Ballet Theatre in
Orlando, is artistic director for Space Coast Ballet.
to mount SCBC’S annual
production of The Nutcracker,”
said Kathleen Weidmore, a
community member who has
been part of the performances
for 18 years. “This project has
attracted volunteers from every
segment of the population,
all ages, genders, races, a
true representation of our
community. From costume
sewers, prop handlers, makeup
artists, backstage guardians
and performers, each person’s
contribution is no less
significant than any other.
“It’s always humbling to
witness that as the magic is
happening on stage, hundreds
of people are working in
concert behind the scenes to
ensure that all goes well. It is a
soul-satisfying experience.”
SPECIAL PERFORMERS
As for guest performers, the
ballet features local stars such
as Junny the bloodhound, a
member of the Brevard County
Sheriff’s Office’s K-9 Unit, and
his trusty human sidekick,
Sheriff Wayne Ivey, who both
add an extra layer of charm to
the production. Ditto for the
appearance of volunteer Glynis
Simon’s retired therapy horse,
Tucker, disguised as the snowwhite
unicorn that transports
Clara and her prince.
Space Coast Ballet Company
is as unique as the production
it orchestrates. Since it is not
a ballet school, it welcomes
dancers from around the county
to audition for the production,
and the dancers flock to the
opportunity. It is also a group
with a big heart, as the company
annually donates seating to
children in Title I schools and to
organizations serving children,
as well as to groups that help
adults with disabilities.
That’s not all.
“In addition to gifting tickets
to the underserved in the
community, SCBC provides dance
education in the elementary
schools and recently added free
ballet classes to Promise in
Brevard,” Grella added.
The group has also instituted a
scholarship program for dance
classes to underserved children
Lavish scenery and
costumes created
at the Kirov Ballet
in St. Petersburg,
Russia, specifically
for Space Coast
Ballet’s Nutcracker
set the King Center
production apart.
>>
/SPACECOASTLIVING.COM
