Embody.Cultivate.Inspire

The Maryland Nutcracker

Choreography by Emily Runkle

Music: Tchaikovsky

Act I

Clara

OLIVIA

Fritz

ELYZA

Parents

MELISSA     GLENN

Maid

LACEE BUCKHOLZ

Party Children

AINSLEY     AUBREY     DALIAH     ESMAE     GUINEVERE     LAILA     LOLAH     MADILYN     PIPER

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Party Parents

EMILY     DAVID

Nurse

KRISTEN

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Grandmother

JESSICA 

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Edgar Allan Poe

STEPHEN

The Raven     HEATHER

Annabel Lee     MADILYN

Masque of the Red Death     BLAIR

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Queens of Snow + Ice

MADISON     MELISSA

Wintry Mix Waltz

BLAIR     ESMAE     HEATHER     JESSICA     KRISTEN     LACEE     LOLAH     MADILYN     KAYLA (understudy)

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** 10 Minute Pause **

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Act II

Welcome to Maryland

REBECCA

Crab + Spice

(saturday) LOLAH     ESMAE

(sunday) KRISTEN     MADILYN

The Raven

BLAIR     HEATHER

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Orioles + Cat

JESSICA

(saturday) MADILYN

(sunday) AINSLEY

ESMAE     LACEE     KRISTEN (understudy)

Little Italy + Boh

MELISSA

AINSLEY     DALIAH     ELYZA     LAILA

BLAIR     GLENN     EMILY     DAVID

Maryland Pride

LACEE

KRISTEN     KAYLA (saturday)     MADISON (sunday)     MADILYN (understudy)

Peppalemons

(saturday) HEATHER

(sunday) LOLAH

AUBREY     GUINEVERE     PIPER

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Beach Waltz

BLAIR     HEATHER     JESSICA     KRISTEN     LACEE     MADISON     MELISSA

Finale

ENTIRE COMPANY

Meet the Company

EMILY RUNKLE, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR + COMPANY ARTIST

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Message from Emily - 

Now that this is our fifth year of The Maryland Nutcracker, it's most certainly an official "tradition”! Thanks to ALL who have made this possible. Our community at Ballet Embody is bigger than anyone can imagine, and stretches from anyone who's praised us by word of mouth or donated an empty box to be used for our prop department. We see you and we appreciate you.

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I'd like to thank:

My Synergy fam- Our amazing teachers and collaborators for providing and maintaining such a wonderful home for Ballet Embody. To Katy Love especially, for your never ending energy and work ethic that makes all things around Synergy possible.
Pam and Dave Runkle- if you see them, give them a hug! They're a huge reason I have the courage and drive to choreograph and run a dance company.
My husband- for putting props and sets on wheels, for occasionally being my dance partner and for all of his support and brainstorming sessions and intellectual property since 2019. ;)
My students- teaching you and watching you perform is a joy. May you always give light to the world the same way that you are tonight.
Our ProCo dancers- working with you is fulfilling, uplifting, and an adventure. You all contribute so much to each rehearsal, and I hope you know how much you inspire your fellow dancers and audience members. I'm truly honored that you've chosen to dance with Ballet Embody.
Melissa- thanks for sharing a brain, and putting up with me getting ahead of myself on practically a daily basis. I love being able to reflect with you on Mondays and share the pride that we feel for our group. This year your grace and strength has been exemplified to the nth degree as we’ve had to shift our work lives around a bit to make room for BE’s two newest little company members. ;) Thank you for your never ending support. We did it! Again!

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MELISSA LINEBURG, MANAGING DIRECTOR + COMPANY ARTIST

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Message from Melissa - 

I cannot believe we're celebrating our FIFTH annual production of The Maryland Nutcracker this year. It seems like it was just yesterday (but actually over 12 years ago) when Emily first mentioned her "crazy" Nutcracker idea to me in the dressing room while we got ready for class... And look at us now.

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I’m so proud to present our latest and most updated version of the show alongside a fantastic company of dancers - professional and student, alike. The Nutcracker will always hold a special place in my heart. I didn’t first perform this holiday classic until I was 15. And, at that age, the only role I was cast in was a mouse; a 15-year-old mouse required to understudy all of the Act II roles but not able to dance those roles until the following year. I share my experience because every single role in a production is just as vital and important as the next and I cannot emphasize enough just how much I value every single role and character within this and every Ballet Embody production. Rehearsals are long and tedious and our dancers astound me with the commitment, passion, and dedication they bring the roles to life.

There are so many people I am incredibly grateful to this season, and I know I’ll accidentally miss some of you - without you, Ballet Embody would not be where we are today. Thank you!

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I’d also like to thank:

Emily, my partner in creativity, laughs, and love of ballet. For our early morning talks, constant support, and Energizer bunny energy - I am so grateful for all of it and cannot wait to see what comes from our continued thinking, creating, presenting, and dancing together.​

Josh, my literal partner in love and this thing called life. For being that annoyingly calm human who’s there for me at the end of long, fulfilling days and your never wavering level of support of my dancing, management, and ignoring my lack of completing chores when needed - thank you.​

My family, Mom, Dad, and Kels - The people who brought me up in life, dealt with my inability to sit still, and taught me to use resources and ask all of the questions. You have always been and continue to be so supportive of my creativity and the oddities that make me, me.​

I am constantly awed and inspired by the amazing things our company of artists are capable of. Your curiosity to push boundaries and to see where your technique, artistry, and intuition can take you - just wow. Without each of our past, future, and current dancers, the company would not be what it has become nor where it is today. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for trusting us on this journey.​

Our audiences, donors, volunteers, supporters, followers, anyone I have absent-mindedly left out - Thank you so much and please enjoy the show!