The Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet will feature guest artists Amanda Smith and Anthony Santos at the ballet’s upcoming performance of the Nutcracker.

Smith and Santos, from the Ballet Theatre of Harlem, will dance the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. Michael Patterson, artistic director of The Patterson School of Ballet, will perform the role of Herr Drosselmeyer. The performances are Saturday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 17, at 3 p.m. at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts. There will also be a special morning performance for area schools on Friday, Dec. 15, at 10 a.m. Tickets are now available for all performances.

Born in Orange County, Calif., Smith began dancing at the age of 3 at California Dance Academy. By 12, she was taken under the wing of Charis Moses where she began serious training in classical and contemporary ballet at Moses’ studio in Yorba Linda, Calif. She then continued her training at the Anaheim Ballet. There she trained, performed and was a part of the Anaheim International Dance Festival, dancing alongside Clifton Brown, Maria Kotchekova and Misty Copeland. Ms. Smith then moved to New York to study at the State University at Purchase where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She also had the opportunity to study abroad with the Dance New York International Dance Festival in Madrid and Burgos, Spain.

In 2012, Smith was hired by Jean Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride to be a part of the second company of the Charlotte Ballet and a year later was promoted to first company. While at Charlotte Ballet she danced roles such as the Cupid from Paquita, coached by Glenda Lucena, Western Symphony: Third Movement, coached by Patricia McBride, and excerpts from Chants by Alonzo King. In 2015, Amanda moved to NYC and freelanced. In January of 2016 she began working with New York Theatre Ballet under the direction of Diana Byer. She taught, & participated in outside projects including dancing for Jeremy McQueen for The Black Iris Project and choreographer; William Isaac. She was also featured in a national campaign for GAP. Ms. Smith was hired by Virginia Johnson to join the Dance Theatre of Harlem in July 2017 and has been featured on the cover of April’s issue of Dance Magazine 2019.

Santos, born in New York City, began his training at Rosie’s Theatre Kids under the direction of Lori Klinger from 2005-2013. Later he started his dance training at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater from 2009-2013, working with Adrienne Hurd, Pedro Ruiz and Kristen McGrew among others. Summer intensives include Joffrey Ballet, Jacob’s Pillow, and Alonzo King LINES Ballet, all on full merit scholarships. Anthony has currently graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts under the direction of Susan Jaffe. While at UNCSA he has performed works by Susan Jaffe, Doug Varone, Ton Simmons, Lucinda Childs, Brenda Daniels, Merce Cunningham, Twyla Tharp, Jose Limon, Paul Taylor, and Sasha Janes. He has a background in musical theater, singing and tap dance included, and has performed with companies such as Miami City Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and Antonio Ciacca’s Jazz Festival in La Spezia. Now Anthony is a dance artist with the Dance Theatre of Harlem under the direction of Virginia Johnson. Working with choreographers like William Forsythe, Christopher Wheldon, Robert Garland, PamTanowitz, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Darrell Grand Moultrie and Claudia Schreier.

Patterson is the Artistic Director of the Patterson School of Ballet located in Erie and is a former professional dancer with the Pennsylvania Ballet, now known as the Philadelphia Ballet. While at the Pennsylvania Ballet, Patterson danced many roles in works by George Balanchine, including The Nutcracker, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Slaughter on 10th Avenue, Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Western Symphony, Prodigal Son, and Agon to name a few. While a member of Pennsylvania Ballet Mr. Patterson had the opportunity to work with and perform Christopher Wheeldon’s Swan Lake at the Edinburgh International Arts Festival in collaboration with the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow. Mr. Patterson’s students have been accepted to many prestigious ballet schools nationally and internationally, including the School of American Ballet (SAB), and have danced with or are currently dancing with Joffrey Ballet, Washington Ballet, American Repertory Ballet, Minnesota Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Boston Ballet, New York City ballet and Netherlands Dans Theater. In 2010, Mr. Patterson was also the choreographer for the short film, “The Dance Lesson” by Chinonye Chukwu which was awarded a Princess Grace Award.

CRYB’s Nutcracker has become a holiday tradition for many families and this year’s production promises magic, excitement, and inspiring performances for everyone. 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 perform their favorite dances in Clara’s honor. It’s a wonderful celebration that ends with the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier performing a beautiful and exciting pas-de-deux.

Artistic Director Monika Alch notes that in addition to the treat of seeing Ms. Smith and Mr. Santos dance, the audience will also be impressed by the caliber of performance presented by CRYB ballet students. The Dew Drop Fairy, and the Snow Queen will be performed by Annie Johnson who will also dance the Sugar Plum during the school performance. The role of Clara will be performed by CRYB dancer Isabella Wilder and the Nutcracker Prince by Yahir McFaline.

Other solos will be performed by CRYB dancers Izzy Balcom, Anya Harvey, Arehlyn Pattison and Charley Marshall. Almost 70 other cast members including CRYB students, Patterson School of Ballet students, The Studio students and community members will round out the cast.

Public performances are scheduled for Friday, December 16th at 7:30 pm and Saturday, December 17th at 3:00 pm. Tickets may be reserved online at reglenna.com or by calling the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts Box Office at 716-484-7070

On Friday, December 15th, morning performance will be held for area schools at 10:00 AM. Interested schools, teachers, administrators, and senior living communities may call the Reg Lenna to reserve seats for this performance at 716-484-7070.

CRYB programming is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts. Additional support for CRYB classical ballet live performances is provided by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo and the Oliver G. & Sarah Sloan Bauman Fund for the Arts.