Kansas Ballet Presents Topeka’s Premier Production Of “The Nutcracker”

Featuring Topeka Symphony Orchestra & Internationally Acclaimed Guest Artists
Valeria Chaykina & Xavier Nunez
Topeka Performing Arts Center
Saturday, Dec. 21 at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 22 at 1:00 p.m.
ALL AGES WELCOME!
Presented with Funding from Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission National Endowment for the Arts

The Magic Is Back…

Kansas Ballet’s 12th annual production of The Nutcracker will be presented at Topeka Performing Arts Center (TPAC) on Saturday, December 21, at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 22, at 1:00 p.m. All ages are welcome to attend.

The performance will feature professional guest artists Valeria Chaykina and Xavier Nunez, along with more than 150 dancers of Kansas Ballet Academy. The production will again feature live musical accompaniment by Topeka Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Kyle Wiley Pickett.

Valeria Chaykina (Sugar Plum Fairy) received her ballet education at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia. After graduating from The Academy in 2012, she joined Leonid Jacobson St. Petersburg State Academic Ballet Theatre as a soloist and later moved to Moscow where she joined Moscow Ballet, also as a soloist. In 2015, Ms. Chaykina joined The Joffrey Ballet and has performed numerous roles in classical ballets such as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and Giselle. Her repertoire also includes other great works like Myles Thatcher's Body of Your Dreams; Jerome Robbins’ Glass Pieces; George Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments; Justin Peck's Year of the Rabbit and The Times Are Racing; Yuri Possokhov’s Anna Karenina; John Neumeier’s Sylvia; Christopher Wheeldon’s The Nutcracker; Nicolas Blanc’s Beyond The Shore; Alexander Ekman’s JOY; Krzysztof Pastor’s Romeo and Juliet; and Cathy Marston’s Jane Eyre. Ms. Chaykina has toured around the world performing in theaters in Spain, Italy, Japan, and Lebanon. She starred in the second season of Teen Vogue's Strictly Ballet online TV series and was featured in the June/July issue of Teen Vogue magazine.

Born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Xavier Núñez (Nutcracker Prince) embarked on his dance journey at age ten at The Hartt Community Dance Division in Hartford, Connecticut, becoming the first dancer in his family. He continued his training at the International Ballet Academy in Cary, NC, under Miguel Campaneria in 2010. In 2012, he earned the silver medal at the World Ballet Competition, propelling him to join the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company under the guidance of Kevin McKenzie and Franco De Vita. Mr. Núñez's path led him to The Tulsa Ballet in 2013, where he performed in productions including The Sleeping Beauty, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Cinderella. In 2017, Xavier took part in the Concours de Opera National de Paris, earning him 6th place and a contract for the 2017-2018 season with the Paris Opera Ballet. In 2018, Xavier proudly became a member of the Joffrey Ballet, a momentous step in his career. Since then, he has been privileged to grace the stage in lead roles, performing in acclaimed productions such as Yuri Possokhov's Anna Karenina, John Neumeier's The Little Mermaid, and more. Beyond his onstage achievements, Xavier Núñez's entrepreneurial drive led him to co-found Action Lines with talented peers Dylan Gutierrez and Eric Grant. He creatively directs and choreographs, aiming to fuse dance, education, and entertainment for a fresh perspective on the industry, enhancing its connection to our community.

SPECIAL TICKET PRICING – LIMITED TIME OFFER!
Promotional pricing is available through 12/20:
$29 General Admission $19 Youth
Tickets may be purchased at the TPAC box office or online through Ticketmaster.
https://www.topekaperformingarts.org/events/2024/kansas-ballet-nutcracker