Known as a Christmas classic, The Nutcracker has a way of casting a holiday glow over audiences. But, at the Dance Theatre of Fayetteville, the annual Nutcracker performance is about more than holiday nostalgia. Every year, it’s a tribute to the broader dance community of Fayetteville and the unusual camaraderie seen among performers and families hailing from studios across the region. This year, it’s especially noteworthy as the performance marks 50 years of such Christmas magic.
“It’s typically very hard to get a collaboration between studios because every studio competes in competitions with each other,” said Secretary James Ragucci-Leach. “As a board, we work really hard to make sure all our studios are represented through the Dance of Fayetteville. Everyone is equal in our eyes.”
This attitude is what brings not only performers of all skill levels to the stage, but non-dancing parents and friends who just want to help.
Ragucci-Leach says he’s seen parents and siblings of dancers donning costumes and taking the stage for the family scene, simply because they want to be part of the community effort.
“I think the main thing is, there’s a sense of family, a sense of community,” he explained. “It gives this warm, fuzzy feeling that ‘this is where we belong.’”
And everyone truly does belong. Ragucci-Leach says that in all his time serving as secretary, they’ve not turned a single auditioner away.
“Every dancer, no matter who they are, gets to try out. And we go off of that to pick what parts they get—but every dancer gets a part. It basically allows dancers of all shapes and sizes and walks of life to get together and showcase what they can do,” he said.
Because tryouts are open to dancers of so many skill levels, the casting directors pay special attention to placing performers in appropriate roles.
“We kind of just make sure that we put everybody in a place where they're going to feel comfortable, but also give them a challenge. We want, more than anything, for dancers to hone their skills through this too, to showcase what they can do, but to push them as well.”
He says planning and tryouts typically start around June—though it started even earlier this year because of additional 50th Anniversary preparations. After tryouts, which are held on-site at Dance Theatre of Fayetteville’s partner organization, Methodist University, planning continues with costuming and rehearsals. Rehearsals are rigorous and begin in dancers' home studios, eventually bringing all participating studios together for group rehearsals.
For the 50th Anniversary performance, attendees can expect the unexpected.
“There’s going to be a lot of surprises,” said Ragucci-Leach. “A lot of things that have never happened at The Nutcracker will happen this year with the 50th Anniversary.”
Additionally, new 50th anniversary merchandise will be available.
Look for 50th anniversary celebratory colors throughout the event and venue. Ragucci-Leach says they chose “pine forest green” to reflect their long-standing partnership with Methodist University and gold to denote the iconic anniversary as color themes.
“You’ll see that from the stage, to the t-shirts the cast and the volunteers are wearing, you’ll see it as you’re coming into The Nutcracker, it’s going to be everywhere!”
Ragucci-Leach says this year’s rendition of The Nutcracker represents the longevity of the Dance Theatre of Fayetteville’s “good, wholesome atmosphere.”
“For us, it’s 50 years of family fun and giving dancers a chance to be themselves,” he concluded.
The Dance Theatre of Fayetteville will present The Nutcracker at Methodist University Huff Concert Hall at 5400 Ramsey St., at the following times: Friday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 7, at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for kids ages 5-12. Children four and under are free.
Visit the Dance Theatre of Fayetteville’s website for more information and to purchase tickets at https://the-dance-theatre-of-fayetteville.square.site/

(Photo courtesy of The Dance Theatre of Fayetteville)