Cleveland Ballet Joins School of Cleveland Ballet for Nutcracker Tea This Annual Tradition Takes on New Life and a New Location CLEVELAND, OH December 6-Cleveland Ballet's sister organization the School of Cleveland Ballet holds its 16th Annual Nutcracker Tea on December 18, 2016. This year the popular afternoon of dance, tea and Sugar Plum Fairies will take place at Andrews Osborne Academy (AOA). Members of Cleveland Ballet's resident company will also be on hand to perform select portions of this holiday classic. The Nutcracker Tea provides families the chance to experience an abridged version of the classic story ballet and meet the dancers after the performance. School of Cleveland Ballet students present key scenes choreographed by Artistic Director Gladisa Guadalupe set to Tchaikovsky's famous score. This afternoon of dance and fun is ideal for families with young children and aspiring ballet dancers and ballerinas. "We have been performing the Nutcracker Tea for 16 years," says Guadalupe, "and each year we have a chance to introduce more children and their families to this wonderful and magical story." Continuing its tradition of celebrating classical ballet as a dance form for all people, among the evening's dancers are Bedford Middle School students and who auditioned for the program after attending Cleveland Ballet's educational dance outreach program. Cleveland Ballet's STEP program (science, technology, evaluation, performance), introduces students to scientific ideas and topics to performative arts, especially dance. The program provides a scalable model for teaching this integration. This event is made possible thanks to a grant from Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, which supports the Nutcracker Tea and the School's educational outreach program. To purchase tickets $45 adult and $25 children from 2 to 16 years old and learn more about how to support School of Cleveland Ballet please visit clevelandballet.org or call: 216-320-9000. --more-- ABOUT SCHOOL OF CLEVELAND BALLET As the official training academy of Cleveland Ballet, School of Cleveland Ballet has been recognized as Northeast Ohio's finest school for ballet education and training. Under the watchful eye of Artistic Director Gladisa Guadalupe and its faculty, the School offers classical ballet training and a diverse dance related curriculum to students of all ages, levels and degrees of interest taught by resident faculty and guest teachers as well. The school's three divisions-Community Division, Pre-Professional Division, and Cleveland Ballet Youth Company-serve students of all ages with different abilities, talents and desires. What: Nutcracker Tea at Andrews Osborne Academy Who: School of Cleveland Ballet and Cleveland Ballet resident company Location: Andrews Osborne Academy in Willoughby, OH When: 12:30 PM - Doors Open; 1:00 PM - Performance Starts; 2:00-4:00 PM Tea and Snacks Admission: $45/adult and $25/children ages 2-16 For Tickets: www.clevelandballet.org <http://www.clevelandballet.org> , or by phone 216-320-9000 (TICKET SALES END 12/13/16 - NO TICKETS WILL BE SOLD AT THE DOOR) For more information on School of Cleveland Ballet, visit clevelandballet.org, or call 216-320-9000 Stay connected on Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/ClevelandBallet> , Twitter <https://twitter.com/BalletCleveland> and Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/clevelandballetcompany/> .