“We are thrilled to give our young dancers the opportunity to share the stage with world-renowned artists and also thrilled to give our community the opportunity to see two dancers from one of the world’s greatest ballet companies perform right here in Jamestown,” said Monika Alch, CRYB artistic director.

Born in Phoenix, Ariz., Gordon began his dance training at the age of five at The Phoenix Dance Academy. He enrolled at the School of American Ballet, the official school of New York City Ballet, in the fall of 2006. In August 2011, Gordon became an apprentice with the New York City ballet and, in July 2012, joined the company as a member of the corps de ballet. He was promoted to soloist in February 2017. Recently, New York City Ballet officials promoted Gordon to principal dancer. Since joining the New York City Ballet, he has performed featured roles in ballets by George Balanchine, August Bournonville, Peter Martins, Benjamin Millepied, Matthew Neenan, Justin Peck, Alexei Ratmansky, Jerome Robbins, Troy Schumacher, and Christopher Wheeldon. He was the 2015-16 Janice Levin Dancer honoree.

King was born in Massapequa Park, N.Y., and began her dance training at the age of 10 with Jane Miller, Luba Gulyaeva, Ali Pourfarrokh and Lynn Glauber at the American Theater Dance Workshop, the official school of the Eglevsky Ballet Company in New Hyde Park, N.Y. King performed with the Eglevsky Ballet Company during its 2000-01 season. In the fall of 2001, King entered the full-time program at the School of American Ballet, the official school of New York City Ballet. King became an apprentice with the New York City Ballet in the fall of 2003. As an apprentice King danced a featured role in Michel Fokine’s Chopiniana, performed by the School of American Ballet as part of the New York City Ballet’s 2004 winter season, and she originated a corps role in Susan Stroman’s Double Feature. King joined the New York City Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet in June 2004 and was promoted to soloist in February 2013.

The Nutcracker tells the classic story of Clara, who falls into a deep, dreamy sleep after an exciting holiday party at which Herr Drosselmeyer presents her with a gift of a nutcracker. As she dreams, Clara embarks on a fantasy journey with her nutcracker prince beginning with an exciting battle with the Rat King and his army of mice followed by a visit to the magical Kingdom of Sweets. There, they meet the Sugar Plum Fairy and her court of sweets who offer to perform their favorite dances in Clara’s honor. It’s a celebration that ends with the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier performing a lovely, romantic pas-de-deux.

Lauren King George Balanchine's THE NUTCRACKER Act II Children's Cast B Choreography George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust New York City Ballet Credit Photo: Paul Kolnik studio@paulkolnik.com nyc 212-362-7778

Alch said in addition to seeing King and Gordon dance, the audience will see Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet students perform. Solos such as the Snow Queen, Arabian, Chinese and Dew Drop will be performed by Chautauqua Regional Youth ballet pre-professional students and almost 60 other cast members including both Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet students and 10 students from the Tiffany Wakeley Academy who are performing as mice and Little Snow. In addition to the public performances, the ballet will also present a school show on Thursday, Dec. 13. Schools interested in attending can call the Reg Lenna Box Office.

Public performances are scheduled for Friday, Dec. 14, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 15, at 2 p.m. Tickets can be reserved by calling the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts box office at 484-7070 or at www.reglenna.com.Special ticket packages also available which include tickets and an invitation to a pre-show reception. For more information, call the Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet at 664-9766.

The Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet is a not-for-profit organization that provides classical ballet instruction to youth from Chautauqua County and the surrounding area.

Joseph Gordon

New York City Ballet dancers Lauren King and Joseph Gordon will perform the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier in the Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet’s 2018 Nutcracker at the Reg Lenna Center For The Arts on Dec. 14-15. Submitted photos