Clark Teen to Dance in 'The Nutcracker'

Clark teen Michelle Venditto will join world-renowned dancers when she appears in the soloist role of Lead Chinese Boy in this year’s full-length production of New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble’s “The Nutcracker" at the Wilkins Theatre at Kean University. Performances will be Saturday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. 

Venditto, 16, will be a sophomore at the Union County Academy for Information Technology. She will also be dancing the roles of Mouse, Russian and Garland. Venditto has been dancing with New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble since 2011.

This 43rd annual production of “The Nutcracker,” set to the classic music of Peter Tchaikovsky, is choreographed by the Ensemble’s Artistic Director, Nancy Turano, and features dancers aged 7 through 18. Internationally acclaimed dancers Christina Dooling, Mark Caserta, Rosemary Sabovick-Bleich, Joseph Fritz, Bradley Shelver, Ricardo Zayas and Darwin Black, from such renowned dance companies as Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, NJ Ballet, Shen Wei Dance Arts and TU Dance, join the Ensemble.

Tickets:  $30/Standard; $20/Students, Seniors and Children. Please call the Wilkins Theatre box office at 908-737-7469 or log onto www.keanstage.com