The Nutcracker 2024
CAST LIST
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR |
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Director and Tutor – Ballet Nelson | Tutor – Legacy Dance
Adriana Harper is a distinguished dance professional with over 20 years of experience as both a performer and educator. Born in Coromandel, her passion for ballet began at age four, leading her to train in Thames and later in Auckland under Val Murray. At 15, Adriana earned a place at the prestigious New Zealand School of Dance, where she graduated with a Diploma in Dance and the Solo Seal Award. Adriana enjoyed an illustrious 11-year career with the Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB), performing lead roles in Don Quixote (Kitri), The Nutcracker (Clara), and Dracula (Lucy Westenra) and touring internationally across the USA, UK, Europe, China, and Australia. She was also a recipient of the Todd Scholarship for excellence in dance. A significant ACL injury temporarily sidelined her career, but with dedicated rehabilitation, Adriana returned to the stage. However, the challenges of recovery eventually led to her decision to retire from the RNZB and transition to teaching. Adriana has since taught dancers of all ages at esteemed schools such as Mount Eden Ballet Academy and Auckland Academy of Dance, sharing her expertise in RAD ballet, Cecchetti, contemporary, barre fitness, and conditioning. Now as the Director of Ballet Nelson, Adriana continues to inspire and mentor dancers, bringing her wealth of experience and passion for ballet to students of all ages. |
GUEST DANCERS
Callum Phipps
Nutcracker Soldier Arabian Callum Phipps is a freelance dancer and artist who graduated from the New Zealand School of Dance in 2019, majoring in classical ballet. He has performed extensively across New Zealand with companies such as Primarily Dance and Ballet Collective Aotearoa, collaborating with renowned choreographers like Loughlan Prior and Cameron McMillan. His career highlights include performances at Tempo Dance Festival, Auckland Arts Festival, and Taranaki Arts Festival, as well as works like Subtle Dances and Koolish Zein. Beyond the stage, Callum has appeared in TV productions (Time Bandits and After the Party) and shares his passion for dance through teaching with Ballet Collective Aotearoa’s Creatives in Schools program and local classes in Wellington. |
Oliver Carruthers
Godfather Drosselmeyer Russian Ollie is a freelance dance artist based in Tāmaki Makaurau and graduated from Unitec with a degree majoring in Contemporary Dance. Ollie danced with Footnote New Zealand Dance for 4 years, performing in many national tours across Aotearoa. Ollie has performed multiple seasons with The New Zealand Dance Company, Okareka Dance Company and World of WearableArt. Last year he went to Spain to train with some of Europe’s greats including Anton Lachky, Chey Jurado & Jasmin Vardimon. His teaching credits include New Zealand School of Dance, Kairos Dance Convention and various schools and companies across the country. |
James Burchell
Nutcracker Prince Born in Dunedin, James trained under Shona Bennett at the Bennett School of Ballet and Jazz, before moving to Wellington to pursue fulltime training at the New Zealand School of Dance. While at NZSD James had the pleasure of training under Nadine Tyson, Qi Huan, and Medhi Angot. Highlights of his time include performing extracts from Ihi FrENZy (music by Split Enz, choreography by Mark Baldwin), and act two of Russell Kerr’s La Sylphide. During his third year he fractured his fibula, undergoing surgery and making a full recovery just in time to graduate. After graduating, James joined Ballet Collective Aotearoa, under the direction of Turid Revfeim. This will be James’ third show with Ballet Nelson, after performing in Cinderella (2020), and Alice in Wonderland (2023). |
LEAD DANCERS
Brook Darling
Mouse King Snow Queen Sugar Plum Fairy Brooke Darling, born in New Plymouth who recently returned from performing in The Little Mermaid production in Sydney, Australia with Tanya Pearson Dance Academy. Brooke began dancing at the age of 4 with Alison’s Studio of Dance in New Plymouth, then later moved to Nelson and joined the teaching of Louise Hawke at the Academy of Ballet Arts. Over the years, Brooke has also trained in musical theatre, tap, jazz, highland dancing, acrobatics, hip hop, and is now following her passion for ballet. |
Isobel Lewis
Big Mouse Snow queen Arabian Soldier 16 year old, Isobel Lewis, from Nelson, discovered her passion for dance at a young age, inspired by her older sister. At four, she began dancing with Rebecca Bignall, before joining the Fargher Academy of Dance at six, where she trained in jazz, ballet, contemporary, lyrical, and musical theatre. Her love for ballet was ignited at 12 after performing in The Nutcracker, directed by Lesley Bandy. In 2021, Isobel began training classical ballet under Adriana Harper at Ballet Nelson. This year, she is excited to perform her dream role, the Arabian pas de deux, in The Nutcracker. In 2025, she will commence full-time training at the Anneliese Gilberd Academy. |
Sophia Newton
Harlequin Older Clara Sophia Newton, born on the Gold Coast in Australia and raised in Nelson, she began her dance journey at the age of 3 yrs at the Academy of Ballet Arts under the guidance of Louise Hawke. She also trained in jazz for a number of years at the Fargher Academy of Dance with Trudy Fargher. She has been a dedicated member of the studio as it has evolved, entering her 14th year of dancing with Ballet Nelson, previously known as the Academy of Ballet Arts. Next year, she will be completing Year 13 at Nayland College. Sophia is absolutely thrilled to be performing the role of Older Clara in The Nutcracker at 17 years, a significant milestone in her dance journey. |
Violet Miller
Young Clara Snow Flake Mirliton Violet is 12 years old and currently attends Nelson College for Girls – Prep. She began ballet at the age of 5 in Nelson and joined Ballet Nelson at 9 years old. This year, Violet completed her second RAD vocational exam (Intermediate level) and has been recognized as a Level 3 National Scholar at the New Zealand School of Dance. She is thrilled to perform the roles of Young Clara and a Mirliton in The Nutcracker. This production is particularly special to her as The Nutcracker is one of her favorite ballets to watch, and she is thoroughly enjoying bringing this classic Christmas story to life. |
A C T 1
ACT 1 - Scene 1 : PARTY SCENE
Character Role |
Dancer |
Young Clara |
Violet Miller |
Fritz |
Scarlett Foord |
Luise (Older Sister) |
Holly Sutton |
Mrs Stanlbaum |
Sarah Potter |
Mr Stanlbaum |
Oliver Madigan |
Governess |
Rosa Marshall |
Maid |
Jasmine Webber |
Drosselmeyer |
Ollie Carruthers |
Grandma |
Carol Westley |
Grandpa |
Scott Sugar |
Guest Mothers & Fathers |
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Guest Girls & Boys |
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Columbine |
Sophie Madigan |
Harlequin |
Sophia Newton |
Soldier |
Isobel Lewis |
Vivandiere |
Elise Morton |
ACT 1 - Scene 2 : BATTLE SCENE
Character Role |
Dancer |
Little Mice |
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Big Mice |
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Mouse King |
Brooke Darling |
Nutcracker Doll |
Callum Phipps |
Soldiers |
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ACT 1 - Scene 3 : SNOW SCENE
Character Role |
Dancer |
Clara |
Sophia Newton |
Nutcracker Prince |
James Burchell |
Snow Drops |
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Snow Flurries |
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Snow Flakes |
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Snow Queens |
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A C T 2
ACT 2 - Scene 1: THE TOY KINGDOM SCENE
Character Role |
Dancer |
Sugar Plum Fairy |
Brooke Darling |
Spanish |
Sophie Madigan |
Arabian |
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Chinese |
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Russian Dolls |
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Mirlitons |
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Waltz of the Flowers |
Jessie Martin (Lead Flower)
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Swan |
Sophie Tee |
