TAMIU Hosts Young Dancers Concert Friday

The Texas A&M International Young Dancers, a group with performers ranging in age from two to 60 will share excerpts from “The Nutcracker Suite” on Friday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. in the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Theatre.

Admission is free of charge and open to the public.

Director Bede Leyendecker, chair of the University’s department of fine and performing arts and dance professors, said the seasonal favorite should delight audiences of all ages.

“This is always one of our most popular performances. Audiences treasure ‘The Nutcracker Suite’ and its performance generally is a harbinger of the holidays. Our young dancers have practiced very hard and are eager to present their dances,” Leyendecker said.

Among the selections that will be performed from Tchaikovsky’s standard are the Dance of the Merlitons, Le Café (Arabian Dance), Waltz of the Flowers, March, Waltz of the Snowflakes, The Christmas Tree, Le Tea, Mother Giogne and the Clowns and Trepak (Russian Dance.)

Also being performed are Le Chocolat (Spanish Dance) and Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Other selections rounding out the evening performance will be a contemporary treatment of “Nutcracker Rock,” traditional offerings of “Guadalajara,” and an entire ensemble performance of Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad.”

The Young Dancers Program at TAMIU, founded in 2002, aims to introduce people of all ages to the beauty of various forms of dance and the importance of its study, while providing various performance opportunities throughout the year.

For additional information, contact Leyendecker at 326.2649, visit offices in CFPA 217, e-mail bleyendecker@tamiu.edu or click on tamiu.edu/coas/fpa/

Information is also available on the University’s social media sites Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, while a dedicated arts calendar with reminder capability is located at tamiu.edu/coas/fpa/coe

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu