The Nutcracker

About the Performance

Step into a realm of holiday magic this Thanksgiving with Clara, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and the wicked Mouse King. Tchaikovsky’s magical score takes the stage with the University of Oklahoma School of Dance and Colorado Springs Children’s Chorale.

About the University of Oklahoma School of Dance:

In 1961, Ballet Russe De Monte Carlo principals Miguel Terekhov and Yvonne Chouteau were invited to “teach a few classes” at the University of Oklahoma. Response to these classes was overwhelming, and Terekhov was subsequently invited to develop the Department of Dance. In 1976, Kozaburo Yukihiro joined the department and worked with Terekhov to develop the curricula for a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Modern Dance.

The program quickly rose to national prominence and cemented a reputation for the strong performance capabilities and professionalism of its graduates. In recognition of its growth in national stature and rankings, the Department of Dance was elevated to the School of Dance in 1998 under the direction of Mary Margaret Holt.

From its inception, the school has been performance-oriented and now boasts two active performing companies. Oklahoma Festival Ballet has a repertoire of over 50 ballets, and Contemporary Dance Oklahoma performs a variety of original works. Both companies perform works from the national repertoire.