Forty-nine CFISD students will perform in the Houston Repertoire Ballet’s 21^st annual performance of The Nutcracker on Dec. 6-8, with 21 posing for a photo. Among those students are participating are Mika Masaki, Victoria Mock, Eliana Rushing, Mariel Campoy, Lily Han, Chantal Noble, Samantha Wilhite, Elsa Becker, Clarissa Wallace, Camilla Vacek, David Daniel Davila II, Allison Wheelock, Isabella Wallace, Michelle Campoy, Elise Davila, Sarah Womack, Eden Davila, Paige Hacker, Katherine Oliver, Katelinn Barnes and Isabella Althus. 

Nov. 12, 2019—Forty-nine CFISD students have been cast in the Houston Repertoire Ballet’s 21^st annual performance of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, featuring Jared Matthews (Estonia National Ballet) as the Cavalier, with the Cypress Philharmonic directed by Glynnes Lanthier.

This fall, auditions were held at the Ballet Center of Houston for roles in the production. The following CFISD students have been cast as mice, polichinelles, party children and party guests:

• Ishika Rauniyar, Anthony Middle School;
• Svetlana Silva, Ault Elementary School;
• Melody Greene, Bang Elementary School;
• Annabella Lozano, Birkes Elementary School;
• Liliana Cuestas and Eva Hsu, Copeland Elementary School;
• Quetzalli Flores, Emmott Elementary School;
• Meghana Shankar, Fiest Elementary School;
• Ashley Soriano, Hairgrove Elementary School;
• Cassidy Lozano and Gavin Bridges, Lowery Elementary School;
• Lulu Caldwell, Moore Elementary School;
• Reagan Brown, Postma Elementary School;
• Sara Alarcon and Maggie Schmidt, Rennell Elementary School;
• Amelia Law, A. Robison Elementary School;
• Angela Huang and Rebekah Zheng, Sampson Elementary School;
• Cara Dahl and Sarah Carr, Swenke Elementary School;
• Rebecca Ramsey, Warner Elementary School;
• Emma Burkhart and Rebeca Rosas, Wells Elementary School; and
• Kaydence Wang and Joanna Box, Woodard Elementary School.

The following CFISD students are Houston Repertoire Ballet company members and will participate in The Nutcracker:

• David Daniel Davila II and Eden Davila, Bridgeland High School;
• Mariel Campoy and Michelle Campoy, Cypress Ranch High School;
• Lauren McClure, Cypress Ridge High School;
• Katherine Oliver, Camilla Vacek, Clarissa Wallace and Isabella Wallace, Cypress Woods High School;
• Paige Hacker and Zoe Nguyen, Jersey Village High School;
• Katelinn Barnes and Chantal Noble Hernandez, Aragon Middle School;
• Allison Wheelock, Cook Middle School;
• Eliana Rushing and Samantha Wilhite, Goodson Middle School;
• Lily Han and Mika Masaki, Labay Middle School;
• Isabella Althaus, Elise Davila and Victoria Mock, Salyards Middle School;
• Elsa Becker and Sarah Womack, Spillane Middle School; and
• Mallory Burkhart, Wells Elementary School.

Houston Repertoire Ballet (HRB) is Houston’s premier pre-professional ballet company. Founded by nationally acclaimed teachers and choreographers Victoria Vittum and Gilbert Rome, HRB is celebrating 24 years of performances. For the last several years, BRB’s production of The Nutcracker have sold out, prompting HRB to add additional performances.

The goal of HRB is to give young, talented and dedicated dances the serious training needed to enter the professional world of dance and many dancers advance to professional ballet companies throughout the country. HRB graduates have danced with the New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Miami City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Houston Ballet and other prestigious companies.

The Nutcracker performances are Dec. 6-8, and tickets can be purchased at www.hrbdance.org.