270 Children Take the Stage in Giant 'Nutcracker' Production

Second and third graders from P.S. 89's after-school hip hop class perform a dance inspired by the "Nutcracker" party scene, with choreography by Bella Takkunen. Photo: Carl Glassman/Tribeca Trib

Two-hundred-seventy kids danced their way across the P.S. 89 stage on Saturday for the sixth annual performance  of “The Nutcracker,” a production by Manhattan Youth’s ever-growing after-school dance program.

Each year, thanks to Susan Kay who adapts and directs the show, Clara (the main character) finds herself on a whole new journey, with a fresh cast of characters, dancers and music, and a new wardrobe of some 300 costumes designed by Constance Tarbox. Original choreography is created by the program's nine dance teachers. This year, the story unfolded in 18 dance numbers that gently touched on some big issues, such as homelessness, self-acceptance and tolerance of different cultures.

The kids, from 19 after-school dance classes in six schools and the Downtown Community Center, began rehearsals in October but, as Kay put it, “I’m thinking about it all summer.” An equally ambitious program takes place in the spring, when there are “no boundaries” and Kay hopes to include Manhattan Youth’s after-school science and film classes, and even a cooking class.

As important for children as learning some basic choreography, said Kay, is the process of working together as a group and then getting in front of an audience and showing what they have accomplished.

“That performance is really an empowering experience,” she said, “and it’s something they will always remember.”