CLAIRE'S SPONSORED GIVING-UP-SUGAR

Hello and a warm welcome to Brecon Festival Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker. This is the fourth year that we have presented the full-scale version of this Christmas family favourite at Theatr Brycheiniog. We’re excited to see that audiences are returning to see Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet and that it’s becoming part of the Christmas tradition in mid-Wales! Of course, ballet companies all over the world perform The Nutcracker at Christmas but, until 2019, Wales didn’t have its own full-scale production. Now it does and it’s a wonderful showcase for the extraordinary talent and skills of Wales-based professional dancers and musicians, local dance students and adult actors and singers! In addition, behind the scenes are the extraordinary people that the audience don’t see – an army of backstage volunteers, costume and prop makers and chaperones! One our priorities as a charity is to create a legacy of dance for Brecon and the surrounding area. Dance is a joyful thing, both for the participant and the audience, bringing great physical and mental health benefits. The local young performers improve their skills year by year and eagle-eyed, regular audiences may spot young cast members moving from the junior roles in the ballet to more senior student roles. For the most dedicated and talented dance students, there is the possibility of eventual promotion to soloist or even principal roles. We’re proud to say that this year, 6 of our 10 principal and soloist dancers originally trained here, in Brecon. So Brecon now has its own resident ballet company, with many of its members originally from its home town. Sadly, Brecon Festival Ballet is facing financial challenges because of the greater competition for grants and sponsorship and our future is not guaranteed. We hope you enjoy the performances and wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!