“The Sea Captain’s Nutcracker” is set to return to the Tilden Arts Center in Barnstable this season, according to a community announcement.
The performances are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Nov. 29, and noon and 4 p.m. Nov. 30. Tickets and group rates can be found at turningpointedancestudio.org.
Presented biennially by Turning Pointe Dance Studio, the production has been a Cape Cod tradition since its debut in 2004.
Reimagined with a Cape Cod twist, the ballet follows a sea captain who returns to Chatham with treasures for young Clara, leading to a dreamlike journey through shipboard adventures and undersea waltzes.
Signature scenes like “The Waltz of the Sea Grass” and “The Dance of the Icy Winds” highlight the Cape’s natural beauty and folklore, all set to Tchaikovsky’s score.
Originally conceived by Catherine Batcheller and Joseph Cipolla, the production was first staged in 2004. Turning Pointe’s Artistic Director Laura Faria Sciortino, who performed in the original production, acquired the rights in 2006 and has since added new choreography and roles.
“Our version of The Nutcracker celebrates the Cape and its people,” Sciortino said. “It honors tradition while embracing creativity, inclusivity, and imagination. We’ve reimagined certain classical scenes to reflect a more coastal and culturally sensitive world. You’ll see Koi Fish, Stingrays, and Langostinos instead of the traditional Chinese, Arabian, and Spanish dances. It’s still authentic to Tchaikovsky’s score but with a seaside twist that’s uniquely ours.”
The production features a mix of professional guest artists and local dancers. Returning artists include principal dancers from Ballet Vero Beach and Tallahassee Ballet.
Yves de Bouteiller, Turning Pointe’s Associate Director of Classical Ballet and a former principal dancer with Ballet du Nord, Milwaukee Ballet, and Béjart Ballet of the 20th Century, reprises his role as Captain Oscar Atkins. Local actress Karen McPherson also returns as Adult Clara/Narrator.
“The collaboration between professional and student dancers is what makes this production so meaningful,” Sciortino said. “Our young performers are inspired by working alongside seasoned artists, and audiences get to experience professional-level ballet right here at home.”
With a cast of more than 90 dancers, the production continues to embody the creative and collaborative spirit of Cape Cod.
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