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The Nutcracker Artscene 25 | Friday, November 28, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" ...A family tradition in Oakville It's been a time-honoured family tradition locally for more than 30 years and the Oakville Ballet wants to keep The Nutcracker around for 30 more. The show, based on E.T.A. Hoffman's The Nutcracker and the King of Mice, tells the story of a young girl, Clara, and her interactions with the Nutcracker Prince, Mouse King and magician Drosselmeyer. "In a world of elegance, The Nutcracker brings to life the eternally popular Tchaikovsky score following Clara's whimsical journey through the Land of Snow to the Kingdom of Sweets," stated a news release. The Oakville Ballet's rendition of the popular show will also feature students from the Oakville School of Classical Ballet under the artistic direction of Amanda Paterson, as well as guest soloist Tyler Gledhill. Born in Ottawa, Gledhill trained at The National Ballet School in Toronto, Het National Balletacademie in Amsterdam, and The Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Seattle. While in school, he was presented with the Peter Dwyer Scholarship for the Performing Arts and the Lawrence Hasket Memorial Award. Gledhill began his career in The Netherlands, has toured through Europe, Asia and Sweden, and is now an independent artist in Toronto, working with numerous troupes. The Nutcracker opens tonight (Friday) at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, 130 Navy St., at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $24. Performances continue tomorrow (Saturday) and Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday (Nov. 30) and Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Tickets for those shows cost $30 and can be purchased at the box office by phone at 905-815-2021, or visit oakvillecentre.ca or oakvilleballet.com. The Nutcracker returns to the Oakville Ballet tonight with its opening show at the Oakville Centre for Performing Arts. Clockwise from top left, guest soloist Tyler Gledhill, who studied at Toronto's National Ballet School, dances with his partner; Clara looks at her new nutcracker toy as her brother sneaks up behind; Clara's father entertains the children; a pair of harlequin wind-up toys; the company takes the stage; the Nutcracker Prince battles the Mouse King in Clara's dream. | photos by Riziero Vertolli ­ Oakville Beaver