PERFORMANCE DATES
ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE
Minnesota Ballet Theatre proudly presents an unforgettable journey into the heart of the holiday season with an authentic experience like no other! Join us for the Twin Cities' most genuine rendition of The Nutcracker, performed by professional guest dancers and the talented students of Minnesota Ballet School. Restaged by Svetlana Bak-Gavrilova and Kirill Bak-Stepanoff, graduates of the prestigious Vaganova Ballet Academy, this marks the 24th annual production of this cherished holiday tradition.
Prepare to be mesmerized by the artistry and elegance of our dancers as they breathe life into the story on stage. Dive deep into the enchanting world of Clara, the Nutcracker, and the Sugar Plum Fairy as they whisk you away on a magical adventure filled with wonder and joy.
This performance is not just a show; it's a celebration of heartwarming traditions. Join us in creating cherished memories with your loved ones as you witness the magic unfold before your eyes.
Make this holiday season unforgettable.
Reserve your seats early, and become a part of this timeless and unforgettable celebration!
TICKET INFORMATION
Price Range: $29 - $42
VIP TICKETS $75
Enjoy the best seats in the house, a personalized photo opportunity with the dancers, and an autographed poster to commemorate the evening. Skip the lines, glide backstage to your seats, and immerse yourself in the enchantment of this timeless ballet. Elevate your Nutcracker experience and create unforgettable memories with our exclusive VIP tickets!
RUNNING TIME
Two hours with one 20-minute intermission
VENUE
Eden Prairie Performing Arts Center
17185 Valley View Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55346
2025 FEATURED GUEST ARTISTS
ALIAKSANDRA KRUKAVA (Sugar Plum Fairy)
Aliaksandra is a proud graduate of the Minsk Ballet Academy, where she honed her skills before venturing into a transformative 6-month internship in Manchester, UK.
As a Principal Dancer at the Minsk State Theatre of Opera and Ballet and the Russian National Ballet, Aliaksandra has graced the stage with elegance and precision. Her repertoire includes iconic roles such as Odillia in "Swan Lake," Kitry in "Don Quixote," and Princess Aurora in "Sleeping Beauty."
A seasoned performer with an 8-year career, Aliaksandra's dance style is a fusion of dynamic energy and traditional grace, evident in her unforgettable portrayal of Kitry in "Don Quixote."
Join us in celebrating Aliaksandra's artistry—a dance journey that harmonizes body movements with musical rhythms, creating a visual masterpiece with every performance.
NURLAN KINERBAYEV (Sugar Plum FairyCavalier)
Born in the cultural heart of Taraz, Kazakhstan, Nurlan is a luminary in the world of ballet. A graduate of the Almaty Choreographic College and the University Bolashak, Kyzylorda, Nurlan's journey as a ballet dancer has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Nurlan's artistry has graced the stages of renowned ballet companies, including the Moscow City Ballet and the Russian National Ballet. His remarkable talent shines through a diverse repertoire of lead roles, encompassing iconic characters like Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake, Basilio in Don Quixote, Prince Desire in Sleeping Beauty, and Albert in Giselle, to name a few.
Beyond his laurels as a laureate of International Ballet Competitions, Nurlan embodies versatility in his craft. A collaborative artist, he seamlessly navigates between drama, comedy, and romance, taking direction with finesse. Nurlan's dedication is unparalleled, practicing a role until it achieves perfection.
In every pirouette and grand jeté, Nurlan Mr Kinerbayev continues to captivate audiences worldwide with his artistic prowess and unwavering commitment to the timeless beauty of ballet.
ANDREW MCGEE (Nutcracker Prince)
Andrew, from Greenville, North Carolina, began his training at Greenville Civic Ballet before moving to Philadelphia to study at The Rock School for Dance Education under Peter Stark, Telmo Moreira, and Magaly Suarez.
He continued at the UNC School of the Arts, performing principal roles in The Nutcracker, Firebird, and Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, as well as contemporary works including The Gardens That Were Watered for Us by Sidra Bell and Echoes by Ilya Kozadayev.
Andrew’s experience spans classical, contemporary, and neoclassical styles, reflecting his versatility and strong artistic foundation.
ANDREW LESTER (Herr Drosselmeyer)
Based in St. Paul, Andrew is an acclaimed dancer with nearly 20 years of experience in the Twin Cities dance community. He earned his BFA in Dance from the University of Minnesota in 2006 and has since established himself as a versatile and dedicated artist.
Andrew was a full-time company member of James Sewell Ballet for six seasons and has been performing with Shapiro & Smith Dance for over 12 years. As a freelance artist, he has collaborated with numerous esteemed Minnesota companies, including Twin Cities Ballet of MN, Metropolitan Ballet, Continental Ballet, Eclectic Edge Ensemble, Ethnic Dance Theatre, Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theater, and the Minnesota Opera.
In 2012, Andrew received a Sage Award for Outstanding Performer for his work in Shapiro & Smith’s Family and Joseph Morrissey’s One. Career highlights include performing for modern dance legend Merce Cunningham, studying under celebrated ballerina Anna-Marie Holmes, and premiering Titicut Follies: The Ballet with James Sewell Ballet in New York City and at the Festival de Danse in Cannes, France.
Andrew’s artistry continues to inspire dancers and audiences alike, reflecting a lifelong dedication to both performance and the vibrant Twin Cities dance scene.
Christina Grace Duffy (Snow Princes)
Christina was introduced to dance at age 12, and began formal ballet training at age 16 with Classical Ballet Center of Summerville, South Carolina, under Melania Ballish Reguiero. Duffy trained and performed with Charlotte Ballet, Moscow Ballet, South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, Cincinnati Ballet, BalletMet, and Oklahoma City Ballet.
From 2021–2022, she joined Roanoke Ballet Theatre under Rolando Sarabia, performing principal and soloist roles in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Sleeping Beauty, La Bayadère, Dracula, and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. She then joined Arles Youth Ballet Company (2022–2023) under Norton Fantinel and Karina Moreira, performing original works by Patrick Delcroix, Norton Fantinel, Young Soon Hue, Craig Davidson, and Kin Sun Chan.
Since 2023, Christina has performed as a guest artist in productions including Cinderella, The Ugly Duckling, Carnival of the Animals, Peter Rabbit, The Fairy Doll, Peter and the Wolf, and The Nutcracker.
She has competed internationally at the Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition (2025), as the U.S. representative at the International Croatian Slavenska Prix (2024) and Ballet Grand Prix Vienna (2024), and a Top 12 placement at Youth America Grand Prix (2019), and earned a Certificate of Merit from the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum Level 6 under Franco De Vita and Raymond Lukens.
Christina has had the honor of training with renowned artists including Yoel Carreño, Adiarys Almeida, Taras Domitro, Kirk Peterson, Michael and Olga Wise, Aurélie Gaillard, Craig Davidson, Julien Guérin, Eléonore Guérineau, Juliette Rahon, and Xenia Wiest.
Tevfik Bayram Vatansever (Snow Prince)
Tevfik, born in Williamsburg, Virginia, began his dance training with the Hilton Head Dance Theatre under the direction of John and Karena Brock-Carlyle. He finalized his pre-professional training with Stanislav Issaev at the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities 2013.
Vatansever performed as a guest artist internationally in classical, contemporary, and character roles while attending the University of South Carolina. His passion for dance was further honed by dance masters from American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, Moscow Classical Ballet, Istanbul State Ballet and Opera, Perm Opera and Ballet Theatre, among others.
Some of Tevfik's favorite roles include Rumpelstiltskin in Michael and Olga Wise's original production, performed at Charleston’s Piccolo Spoletto Festival, Kashchei the Immortal, in Charleston City Ballet's, Firebird, Peter Pan in Lazlo Berdo's original production, Peter Pan the Ballet with the Carolina Ballet Theatre, Emeralds in Balanchine's Jewels under the direction of Stacy Calvert, with the University of South Carolina.
Vatansever served as the Director of Dance for the Turkish-American Arts Society of New York. He was awarded silver YAGP Atlanta 2013, and competed in the 2014 International Istanbul Ballet Competition. He holds a BSc in Business Economics, DS in Cultural Industries, MSc International Business from Darla Moore School of Business, and MSc in International Management from Koç University.
ALEC TRELSTAD (Rat King)
Alec Trelstad is a versatile dancer, actor, and visual artist from Minnesota. He has performed at numerous Twin Cities venues, including the Ritz Theater, The Guthrie Theater, and The Cowles Center.
This is Alec’s third year performing with Minnesota Ballet Theatre, and he is thrilled to bring his artistry to the stage once again. Alec encourages dancers of all styles to fully immerse themselves in ballet:
"It will challenge you, build confidence in your technique, and expand your musical expression."
Ballet Brilliance: Supporting Excellence
We're immensely grateful for your unwavering support. Minnesota Ballet Theatre (MBT) has been a cultural cornerstone in the Twin Cities since 2014. With your belief in our mission, MBT continues to inspire audiences and nurture a love for dance. Your donation fuels our efforts, supporting artist salaries and innovative productions for our local community. Thank you for making a difference.
NUTCRACKER GALLERY
Repertoire
Peter and the Wolf
Great Halloween Adventure
Carnival of the Animals
"Peter and the Wolf' is the tale of a brave little boy, who together with his friend the bird, traps a frightening wolf who is threatening the safety of the village," according to a news release.
"Musical instruments in the orchestral accompaniment represent each character in the ballet; narration throughout the performance helps the audience follow the story. The narrative assists even the youngest audience members in appreciating the delightful dances of Peter, Bird, Cat, Duck, Wolf and even Grandfather."
Carnival of the Animals
Great Halloween Adventure
Carnival of the Animals
This ever-popular musical work by Camille Saint-Saëns is now enhanced with dance steps in a new and thoroughly entertaining Ballet. The Carnival has never been so alive! The animals are having a carnival. There's the majestic lion, the braying mules, the dancing elephant, and the bouncy kangaroos. Even the fossils invited! With following most famous Dying Swan choreographed by Michael Fokin for Anna Pavlova. A timeless children's classic Carnival of the Animals Is clever, charming and musically sophisticated.
Great Halloween Adventure
Great Halloween Adventure
Great Halloween Adventure
Original Halloween Adventure — an exciting (and only slightly spooky) dance production for the whole family. Spooky things can happen on Halloween, but the forces of Good are very strong, and Good will win out in the end.
Paquita
Les Sylphides (Chopiniana)
Great Halloween Adventure
Grand Pas from the ballet “Paquita” is known worldwide for its choreography by M. Petipa and music by Leon Minkus. "Colorful costumes, inventive choreography and ageless music combine to make a memorable experience for theatergoers of all ages," the release said.
Les Sylphides (Chopiniana)
Les Sylphides (Chopiniana)
Les Sylphides (Chopiniana)
Originally entitled Chopiniana, this ballet was first premiered in St. Petersburg in 1907 at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint PetersburgRestructured and presented in the first 1909 Ballets Russes season in Paris under Diaghilev's title, Les Sylphides, Fokine created this dance suite unifying music and movement in an implied drama of Romanticism. Les Sylphides is famous as the first "abstract" classical ballet without narrative structure or defined characters.