Gianna Forte to Perform Role of Clara in New England Ballet's Nutcracker

Easton resident and New England Ballet Co. dancer Gianna Forte, pictured,
will be performing the lead role as Clara in New England Ballet Company’s 21st
Anniversary production of the Nutcracker.

Gianna is a freshmen at Joel Barlow High School. She has been dancing since
the age of 2. It has been a lifelong dream to perform this role and she is
thrilled to have been given this honor. Gianna dances with New England Ballet
School in Orange, Connecticut Dance, and Lisa Denaro School of Classical
Ballet, both located in Monroe. This is her fifth production of Nutcracker. As resident ballet company of the Klein Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Avenue Bridgeport, Gianna will be performing the role of Clara alongside guest artists Jared Matthews and Yuriko Kajiya from The American Ballet Theater. Ms. Kajiya will be performing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Mr. Matthews is to perform the role of the Sugar Plum Cavalier. This will be for one show only on Saturday December 15th
at 1pm.

New England Ballet will also be performing shows at the Parson’s Complex at 70 West River Street, Milford, on Saturday December 8th at 4pm and Sunday, December 9th  at 1pm. Gianna will perform the role of British Princess, Flower, and Snowflake at these performances.

Gianna, along with other mentors, has been working with special needs students to prepare for a very special performance. At the same venue on 12/8 at 11am, New England Ballet
Company is proud to present the third annual performance of an integrated dance
and theatre program for individuals with autism and special needs in an
adaptation of  Nutcracker Suite. The program recently won a C.
Newton Schnenck 111 Lifetime Achievement Award from The Arts Council Of New
Haven, it is a collaborative effort between New England Ballet Company and the
City of Milford’s
Adaptive Arts Program.

Gianna will also be performing the role of Clara at The Sugar Plum Party at
Stratford Theater on November 25 at 12.30 or 3pm. Younger children can enjoy a
performance of The Nutcracker Suite, listen to Clara read the story, meet the
dancers and do a simple holiday craft.

For more information and to reserve your tickets call (203)799-7950 or visit
the website at www.newenglandballet.org