Experience the Classic Performance of The Nutcracker

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The Pampa Civic Ballet Company will be presenting The Nutcracker beginning December 3rd at M. K. Brown Civic Auditorium. Established in 1972 by Jeanne M. Willingham, the Pampa Civic Ballet Company is now directed by former student, Deanna McGill, who took over in 2009 when Willingham retired. The Nutcracker is a tradition for the Ballet Company as it has been one of their iconic performances presented nearly every year since 1992. The tale of this classic ballet performance follows the story of a little girl, Clara, who befriends a nutcracker, which comes to life, and ventures to the Land of Sweets on Christmas Eve. Kenzee Doughty will be performing the role of Clara and Isaia Anderson will be performing the role of the Prince.

Doughty has been with The Pampa Civic Ballet Company since she was in kindergarten. In addition to ballet, Doughty is heavily involved with school circulars. She is a member and officer of the National Junior Honor Society, Vice Mayor of Pampa Junior High, as well as a member of Student Council and Student Masters. Doughty was scheduled to be Clara in the Ballet Company’s 2020 production of The Nutcracker, however the Covid pandemic ended up shutting down the show. This year, however, Doughty will have her opportunity to shine as Clara.

Anderson has been with the Ballet Company for a few months now, however, he has had previous roles in The Nutcracker throughout the years. This will be Anderson’s first year performing as the Prince. Aside from ballet, Anderson enjoys many hobbies like gaming and art. He is heavily involved with his robotics class where he gets to learn programing.

Both of the ballet students are eagerly looking forward to their upcoming performance.

“I’m looking forward to working with the guest artists,” Doughty said, referring to Edward Truitt, Emma Godek, and Jake Godek. “I really like them and I feel like they bring in a lot of good energy.”

“I’m looking forward to a lot of things,” Anderson said. “This will be the first year I will be in the entire show. It’s going to be nice.”

McGill spoke highly of her students and the work they have put in, not just to the performance, but learning ballet as a whole.

“I would like to thank all the parents that bring their kids to rehearsals each week and all my students,” McGill said. “They’re all wonderful.”

Doughty and Anderson expressed their appreciation to all that help make the The Nutcracker performance happen.

“I would like to thank everyone who has had a part in making The Nutcracker,” Doughty said. “The people who decorated for us, the Board that works so hard to put this on, everyone who dances here, and the stage people, are all important and I’m very thankful for them.”

“I’d like to thank my parents, my sister, and Deanna for being supportive and helping me learn everything I needed to learn,” Anderson said. “I want to thank the video team as well because they are the ones who help get the performance to many people and share the memory of The Nutcracker.

For more information about The Pampa Civic Ballet Company, call (806) 663-9103. Be sure to check out The Nutcracker on December 3rd at 7:00 pm and December 4th at 2:30 pm.