Sole City's 'Nutcracker' is a triumph, a must-have Christmas gift

Anna Winslette, an SCD alumn, returns to the ROH stage to dance the soloist role of Snow Queen while snowflakes fall and dance all around her. (Sole City Dance photos)

ROCHESTER - Thursday's opening night performance of the Sole City Dance production of "The Nutcracker" at Rochester Opera House looked more like a seasoned troupe winding up a long run rather than a jittery-nerved premiere.
The two and a half hour performance of the beloved Christmas classic is a breath-taking, mystical magic carpet ride through Act I, where a nutcracker comes to life at midnight Christmas Eve to battle the evil Mouse Queen and snowflakes dance around their Snow Queen, all to Tchaikovsky's famous composition.

Sophie Goodes performing as a mouse gets hit by a surprise attack by toy soldiers during Battle Scene.

One of the wow moments of the first act is when Sole City alum Anna Winslette, who now dances for the Portland (Maine) Ballet, dances as the Snow Queen with snowflakes Kytalin Dowling, Julia Mahler, Sarah Martin and Keira Proto.
The choreography is spot on and the ballet

Madelyn Pinard & Turner Dowling dance as Angel Leads in a magical haze of fog helping lead Clara to the land of sweets.

acumen shines brilliantly.
The second act - set in the Land of the Sweets - transitions from mystical to celebratory, with a host of talented ballerinas and danseurs taking the stage in a whimsical cavalcade of thrilling dances.
Act 2 showstopping moments that invoked bravos from an enthusiastic audience included Sara Boudreau as a Russian tumbler, and in the dance of the night, when Sugar Plum Fairy Katherine Duffy and Cavalier John Deming danced an emotionally charged, poignant duet that brought the house down. Goosies.
Intertwined throughout all the top-notch talent on stage on its tippy toes was the youngest of players, the dragon flies, the baby mice, that are not only giving their all, but also just so darned cute.
This is a Christmas treat that won't put on any pounds, one the entire family will treasure and remember. Don't miss it.
Sole City Dance will play three more shows Saturday and Sunday. Both days are sold out in the orchestra but still have balcony seating available.

Saturday has two showings, at 2 and 7 p.m.
For ticket info click here.