(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Your holiday spirits will soar when New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble (NJDTE)'s full-length production of "The Nutcracker" returns to Montclair State University for its 47th anniversary season on December 10th and 11th. Set to the classic music of Peter Tchaikovsky and choreographed by NJDTE Artistic Director Nancy Turano, the ballet features over 55 talented young dancers ages 7 through 18 from across New Jersey as well as professional guest artists.

Turano, a former resident of Montclair, said, "I am thrilled to bring 'The Nutcracker' to this thriving cultural community. This season is especially meaningful for me, as I have joined the faculty of the Theater & Dance Department at Montclair State University for the 2016-17 school year. As a hub for forward-thinking arts initiatives, Montclair is a perfect match for NJDTE and our mission of cultivating contemporary, progressive dance programming and training right here in New Jersey."

Celebrated dancers Peter Brandenhoff, Rosemary Sabovick-Bleich, Joseph Fritz, Morgan McEwen, Brian Gephart, Bradley Shelver, and Lyvan Esteban Verdicia, from prestigious companies such as San Francisco Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, Metropolitan Opera Ballet and New Jersey Ballet, among others, join the Ensemble for three performances at Memorial Auditorium at Montclair State University, 1 Normal Avenue, Montclair, NJ, on Saturday, December 10 at 1:00pm and 5:00pm, and Sunday, December 11, 2016 at 2:00pm. Tickets are $25-$35, and are available online at http://njdte.eventbrite.com.

New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble celebrates over 46 years of excellence as a pre-professional training school and performing company. Founded in 1969 under the direction of internationally acclaimed ballet master, Alfredo Corvino, and led by award-winning Artistic Director Nancy Turano since 1994, NJDTE has maintained a successful dance curriculum with an unparalleled outcome of artistic excellence. NJDTE’s forward-thinking programming empowers students with contemporary dance technologies as well as traditional dance forms. The Ensemble provides mentorship programs and access to master artists and choreographers as role models, creating a network for its dancers to succeed as performing artists in higher education and as professionals in the field. An esteemed advisory panel of the country’s most acclaimed dance artists supports the Ensemble.

Throughout the year at NJDTE’s new 9,000 sq. ft. facility in Summit, a full schedule of classes in ballet, modern, pointe and contemporary dance for dancers ages 5-18 are taught by faculty and ABT Certified Teachers from prominent companies and schools, including the Royal Danish Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Limón Dance Company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Parsons Dance Company and Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, among others. NJDTE has been acknowledged for creating innovative training and mentoring programs for dancers and choreographers in the New York City metro area, including MOVEMENT INVENTION PROJECT®, MIP2®, AiR® contemporary choreographic residencies, and INKUBATE®, a site-specific dance installation series at Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit, NJ. The Ensemble presents a full-length production of “The Nutcracker” at Montclair State University, annually premieres new works by innovative artists-in-residence, and maintains a diverse repertory by master choreographers Twyla Tharp, David Parsons, Robert Battle, Sidra Bell, Adam Barruch, Loni Landon, Shannon Gillen, Kate Skarpetowska, Belinda McGuire, Bradley Shelver, Elizabeth Roxas and Nancy Turano. The company also offers continuing support for its alumni with employment opportunities as NJDTE staff members and guest artists.

PHOTO BY: Tony Turner