There will be tutus and Tchaikovsky, magic and mystery – necessary ingredients for all Nutcrackers. However, this one-of-a-kind production will also feature beavers fighting fur trappers, dancing wapato plants, and Oregon Trail children arriving via covered wagon as local Fort Vancouver history is weaved into the plot of a classic ballet. December 2022 marks the debut of Columbia Dance’s brand-new Nutcracker for Clark County.

Audiences will find themselves at a holiday party in the Chief Factor’s dining room of 1840’s Fort Vancouver. Party guests include historically accurate characters at the Fort: a family from Scotland, a couple from Hawaii, and a Naval Lieutenant from England. Dr. John McLoughlin arrives bringing a stranger into their midst- a fur trapper from the village whose tales capture the imagination of young Cecilia Douglas and inspire her outlandish dream . . . Beavers stealing a top hat, a mystical woman conjuring an abalone moon, 3 shipwrecked castaways scrambling to reach solid ground, a majestic salmon fighting a river’s current to swim upstream . . . each scene a fantasy inspired by history!

Columba Dance has been collaborating with historical experts, local tribes and Fort Vancouver staff since 2019 to provide a whimsical, family-friendly story steeped in a complex history. This production features sets by renowned scenic artist Thyra Hartshorn and costumes by international designer Christine Darch.

“The production value will have audiences “oohing” and “ahhing” as they watch our cast of student dancers and guest artists breathe life into this inspired plot for a new generation,” Columbia Dance Director Becky Moore says.

Performance Details:
December 16th 6pm Sensory Friendly Performance
December 17th 1pm and 5pm Performances
December 18th 1pm and 5pm Performances
Advanced Purchase Tickets: $23 Adult, $18 Youth/Senior, $30 Household
Livestream
Tickets Purchased at the door: $25 Adult, $20 Youth/Senior or at
www.columbiadance.org.

About Columbia Dance:
Founded in 1989, Columbia Dance is a non-profit arts organization
dedicated to enriching lives in the community through dance. This year
marks the second year they have partnered with Vancouver Public Schools
to deliver a Nutcracker curriculum to every 3rd grader in the district
that culminates in a field trip to the live production. For the first
time in 2022, Columbia Dance is providing a sensory-friendly performance
and their Nutcracker Ticket Donation Program. Partnering with Clark
County Food Bank, SHARE, and other area non-profits, Columbia Dance will
be gifting 1,000 tickets to families in need.  Columbia Dance looks
forward to welcoming all audiences into the world of dance with our
reimaged holiday performance of The Nutcracker