Ballet Hartford to Premiere A Ceremony of Carols in New York, Philadelphia, and Winston-Salem

Photo byBallet Hartford

In collaboration with Ballet Hartford, Claire Kretzschmar Productions is thrilled to announce the upcoming multi-state tour of A Ceremony of Carols, an uplifting and mesmerizing Christmas program set to premiere in New York City, Philadelphia, and Winston-Salem.

A Ceremony of Carols is a new Christmas tradition, featuring original ballets by Claire Kretzschmar, former New York City Ballet Soloist and Ballet Hartford's Artistic Director. The program begins with the world premiere of Weihnachtsbaum with music by Franz Liszt and culminates in A Ceremony of Carols, featuring twelve glorious songs by Benjamin Britten. Co-produced by Grammy Award-winning singer Katy Avery, this double feature is elevated by live piano, harp, and choral music.

The tour represents a significant milestone for Ballet Hartford, demonstrating the company's dedication to artistic innovation and community outreach. Claire Kretzschmar Productions, a non-profit organization founded by Kretzschmar, further underscores the collaborative spirit and creative vision driving this festive endeavor.

Performance Schedule:

• New York City, NY: Monday, December 9, at 7:30 PM at Symphony Space
• Philadelphia, PA: Wednesday, December 11, at 7:30 PM at Performance Garage
• Winston-Salem, NC: Sunday, December 15, at 3:00 PM at Reynolds Auditorium

Tickets will be available for purchase, beginning October 1, via Claire Kretzschmar Productions at claire-k.com or Ballet Hartford's website, ballethartford.com.

Claire Kretzschmar, a Winston-Salem, N.C. native, shared her enthusiasm and anticipation: "Christmas has always been my favorite season, so presenting A Ceremony of Carols as a new holiday offering is especially exciting. Both ballets are inviting and joyful, Weihnachtsbaum (meaning Christmas Tree) captures the essence of a Christmas concert or gathering, and A Ceremony of Carols is an angelic embodiment of the Nativity Story. I'm so grateful to collaborate with such talented artists on this project, and I hope these performances will be a gift to the communities that shaped my artistic journey.”

Katy Avery, co-producer and Winston-Salem native added, “Having grown up dancing for many years, it has always been a dream of mine to combine my love of dance with my singing career. When I saw Claire’s post about A Ceremony of Carols last year, I knew this could be the perfect opportunity to do just that. I am thrilled to get to know Claire through this process, and to return to the stage I performed on many times as a child in Winston-Salem.”

Avery will be a featured vocalist in the performances, joined by Liz Lang and Abigail Chapman, and the tour will feature a special solo by Kretzschmar during the Winston-Salem performance, adding a personal touch to the hometown performance. In addition, Kretzschmar will conduct two master classes at the Academy of Dance Arts in Winston-Salem on Saturday, Dec.14: a Beginner Class 9:00 am - 10:30 am and an Advanced Master Class 10:30 am - 12:00 pm.

A Ceremony of Carols made its debut in Connecticut during last year’s holiday season, choreographed by Claire Kretzschmar for Ballet Hartford. The three-state tour will mark the first time that A Ceremony of Carols is being performed with live music. The three-state tour will be Kretzschmar’s first staged choreographic program to appear in New York City, where she trained and danced professionally for 13 years.

For more information about the tour, to purchase tickets, and to explore Ballet Hartford's full schedule of performances and events this fall, please visit Ballet Hartford's website.