Tinton Falls Dancer in Soloist Roles in 'Nutcracker'

An announcement from the New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble:

Kara Menendez, 16 of Tinton Falls, will join world-renowned dancers when she appears in the soloist roles of “Dew Drop” and “Toy Soldier” in this year’s full-length production of New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble’s much loved “The Nutcracker.” Internationally acclaimed dancers Clifford Williams, Christie Partelow, Rosemary Sabovick-Bleich, Joseph Fritz, Adrian Silver, Ben Schultz, Ricardo Zayas, and Jason McDole, from such acclaimed dance companies as Complexions Contemporary Ballet, NJ Ballet, Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Martha Graham Dance Company, and Lar Lubovitch will join the Ensemble for three performances at the Wilkins Theatre @ Kean University, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ on Saturday, December 3 at 2:00pm and 7:00pm, and Sunday, December 4 at 2:00pm.  

Kara, daughter of Maryanne and Ray Menendez of Tinton Falls, and a junior at Red Bank Catholic High School, will also be dancing the roles of Marzipan, Spanish, Snow and Waltz. Kara has been dancing with New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble since 2003 and has previously appeared in the roles of Fritz, Bon Bon, Soldier, Angel, Garland, and Chinese.  

New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble is known throughout New Jersey and the New York metro region as one of the premier pre-professional ballet and modern dance companies. Its high-caliber training in ballet, contemporary and modern dance, as taught by some of the dance world’s most notable dancers, teachers and choreographers, includes guest faculty from such prominent dance companies as Netherlands Dance Theatre, The Paris Opera Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Nacho Duato & Compania Nacional de Danza, Jose Limon Company, Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, Bat Sheva Dance Company, Martha Graham Dance Company, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Twyla Tharp, Parsons Dance, Mark Morris Dance Group, and The Ailey School/Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, among others.  

This 42nd 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 19.  

Tickets:  $30/Standard; $20/Students, Seniors and Childern; $15/Groups of 10 or more. Please call the Wilkins Theatre box office at 908-737-7469 or log onto www.keanstage.com.