If you’re missing live performances this holiday season, Red Deer College has you covered. The school is presenting Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker ballet online this year. 

The Nutcracker is an exciting holiday-themed adventure the audiences have enjoyed for over 100 years. 

“RDC is extremely proud to once again help showcase the talented dancing of central Alberta youth in The Nutcracker, which is one way to help cultivate the festive spirit over the coming months,” says Dr. Peter Nunoda, RDC President. “Despite the inability to watch the performance in person this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, the ballet is bound to entertain and enhance connections in the surrounding communities with this collaborative effort between College students, instructors, dancers, and community members.” 

To prepare for this performance, 37 dancers aged from five to 18 practiced in cohorts in order to follow all provincial health and safety protocols.

 Students and instructors from RDC’s Bachelor of Applied Arts, Film Theatre, and Live Entertainment programs helped to film and edit the scenes from the production. All scenes featured in the production have been filmed in the Red Deer area. 

The production is available to view here through a variety of different digital methods that you can access here. You can buy an extended version including behind-the-scenes exclusive footage, and interviews with the performers and crew until January 8th.