Local Student To Perform In Ballet

Alexandra Attardi rehearsing for her role as Clara Alexandra Attardi, 9, of Garden City, will be dancing the leading role as Clara in "The Nutcracker Ballet (Land of Snow and Kingdom of the Sweets)."

She will be one of 70 children from the Great Neck School of Dance who will join with 10 professional dancers currently performing with The American Ballet Russe and previously performing with companies like The Bolshoi Ballet.

With its beautiful Tchaikovsky music and choreography by Osamu Uehara, The Land of the Sweets Ballet includes dancers performing as bakers, confectioners and the candy itself including ice cream sundaes, chocolate covered nuts and cotton candy sheep. There is also the waltz of the candied flowers and the pas de deux of the Sugar Plum Fairy (Roberta Senn) and her cavalier Raul Peinado (formerly of The Joffery Ballet).

Alexandra is no stranger to the stage. She has been performing since the age of four and began ballet at the age of 2 1/2. By three, she was being trained privately by artistic director Roberta Senn.

Alexandra in rehearsals Alexandra has had solo roles in 10 full-length classical ballets and is excited to dance the leading role as Clara. Her costumes are being designed and custom made by designer Linda Jean of Bayville, who also designs all of her figure skating clothing.

Alexandra is a competitive figure skater as well, who has the unique ability to combine her ballet with her skating. She is also a fourth-grade student at Stratford Elementary School. She loves to go to the ballet at Lincoln Center, read books, write stories and play with her five-year-old brother Richard.

Performances will take place on Saturday, December 13 th, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 14 th at 3 p.m. at Lakeville Elementary School, 47-27 Jayson Avenue in Great Neck. Admission is $20 for adults and $12 for seniors and children under 12 years.

For information and tickets, call The Great Neck School of Dance at (516) 466-3515