“The Nutcracker” is back on the Sitnik Theatre stage with the 22nd annual New Jersey Civic Youth Ballet production.

Performances are Friday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 18, at noon and 5 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 19, at 3 p.m. at the Lackland Performing Arts Center of Centenary University, 715 Grand Ave., Hackettstown.

The production features original choreography by NJCYB co-Executive and Artistic Directors Alexandra Thorpe and Ashley Cicala Feyrer who are former company members and students at the North Jersey School of Dance Arts. Both had featured roles in earlier incarnations of “The Nutcracker” on the Centenary stage and at other venues.

As it does each year, the company features professional dancers and current NJCYB members and alumnae in Tchaikovsky’s classic Christmas ballet, the story of a young girl who receives a fascinating Christmas present which sends her off on wonderful adventures in the Land of Sweets with her Nutcracker Prince and the Sugar Plum Fairy.

The 2020 performance was cancelled because of the pandemic after more than 20 years of continuous performances in various venues around northern New Jersey before the construction of the Lackland Center.

“We are all beyond thrilled to perform live on stage once again,” Thorpe said. “Our performers have been working extra hard to offer our audience a much-needed, exceptional holiday experience.”

“The holidays just aren’t the same without The Nutcracker,” echoed Feyrer. “With more than 50 dancers, this magical adventure offers stunning costumes, dazzling dancing, and the classic holiday music by Tchaikovsky, sure to delight the whole family!”

The lead role of Clara will be shared by Lila D’Oliveira of Oxford and Kristina Gallagher of Independence, both 11. They have been training for more than 12 hours a week and are thrilled to be debuting in this coveted role.

Alexandra (Lexy) Limeburg, a NJCYB alum, will perform the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Limeburg performed in NJCYB’s “The Nutcracker” in a variety of roles from 2007 to 2015 and in 2019 she danced as the Snow Queen. Most recently she trained at Miami City Ballet School learning many Balanchine ballets including Raymonda Variations and Serenade and performed Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

This year’s Prince will be performed by Ramon Gaitan who has danced with Richmond Ballet, Ballet Theatre of Maryland, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Dayton Ballet and Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre. He’s worked with choreographers such as Wayne McGregor, Ron De Jesus, and John Mark Owens at Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival.

Sara Seger, a founding company member of NJCYB, will again dance Arabian with her partner, Sebatino Verlezza. Seger has toured nationally and internationally with Battery Dance, RIOULT Dance NY, and performed at Lincoln Center Institute, The American Dance Guild, Cool NY Dance Festival and was lead

actress in the feature film, “Nothing Serious: The Movie,” directed by John Appleton. Verlezza has performed multiple works by May O’Donnell and is a certified teacher of the O’Donnell technique. He joined RIOULT Dance NY in 2012, under the direction of Pascal Rioult, and performed nationally and internationally with the company.

Tickets for The Nutcracker range from $17.50 to $30.50. For more information, or to purchase tickets go to centenarystageco.org or call the Centenary Stage Company’s box office at (908) 979-0900. Or follow Centenary Stage on social media.

NJCYB held its third annual Ballet 5k and Tutu 2k fundraiser in October in Hackettstown to support dance education and professional performances. It is Warren County’s only non-profit ballet company. Dancers ages 5 and up may audition for performances. For more information, visit www.njcyb.org

Centenary Stage Company remains committed to the health and safety of our community and adheres to all requirements set forth by the State of New Jersey. For more information regarding CSC COVID-19 policies and policy updates, visit centenarystageco.org/faq.

The 2021-22 season of performing arts events at the Centenary Stage Company is made possible through the generous support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the NJ State Council on the Arts, the Shubert Foundation, the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, the Sandra Kupperman Foundation, the John and Margaret Post Foundation, and CSC corporate sponsors, including Platinum Season Sponsor The House of the Good Shepherd, Silver Sponsors Hackettstown Medical Center Atlantic Health System, Home Instead Senior Care (Washington), and Fulton Bank, and Centenary Stage Company members and supporters.