Dance Kids of Monterey County Will Present Fifth Annual Performances of ‘A Folklorico Nutcracker’ at South County Sc

1. Dance Kids of Monterey County Will Present Fifth Annual Performances of ‘A Folklorico Nutcracker’ at South County Schools inNovember Now in its fifth year of touring Monterey County, Dance Kids of Monterey County will once again present performances of “Cascanueces: A Folklorico Nutcracker,” in South County schools in November. Carmel, CA, June 18, 2018 — Now in its fifth year of touring Monterey County, Dance Kids of Monterey County will once again present performances of “Cascanueces: A Folklorico Nutcracker,” in South County schools inNovember. The annual holiday tradition in story and dance celebrates the rich culture of Mexico and countries southoftheborder.Theidea ofmeldingEuropeanmusic andmusic fromSpanish-speakingcountriesto create a “Cascanueces” has brought together mariachi musicians, folkloric choreographers and local balletdancers. This year, 10 students each from elementary schools in San Ardo, San Lucas, Greenfield, and King City, will study a dance with two folkloric dancers and one musician for six weeks prior to the school performance. These students will then perform with the professional troupe in the assembly at their respectiveschools. Ten mariachi musicians will perform Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece rewritten by Salinas-born Jalisco harpist, William Faulkner. Theprogramincludesthefourdivertissementsfromthesecondact andthemuch- loved “Sugar Plum Fairy” solo, performed by a Dance Kids' ballerina in a traditional tutu. Folkloric dancers perform four traditional, and very different, dance styles from four Mexican states.Together the program bridges cultures and fosters growth and understanding of diversity through the art of dance. The November 2018 tour date of “Cascanueces” is reserved by South County schools early each school year in the anticipation of a colorful and educational assembly. The tour begins in San Ardo with performances in San Lucas, King City, Greenfield andSalinas. At least two of the schools invite other schools to their assemblies, allowing Dance Kids to impact more thansevenschoolsinonetourdate.InNovember2017,thereweremorethan1,500 audiencemembers in elementary through high school in attendance. The day culminated in a performance at Hartnell College in Salinas to a standing-room-only, 250-seat music hallsetting. DanceKids ofMonterey County,foundedin1993,isanon-profitgroupwiththeobjectiveofbringing theartofthedanceand theaterexperiencetoallyoungstersinMonterey County.In 25years,the

2. organization has produced more than 50 productions, including month-long summer theaterintensives, traditional and full-length storyballets. Dance Kids now supports an ongoing afterschool learning program in a Monterey Peninsula Unified School District location, in addition to its popular annual performances of “Nutcracker” at Carmel’s Sunset Cultural Center and“Cascanueces.” The two directors/choreographers for “Cascanueces: A Folklorico Nutcracker,” husband-and-wife team Maria Luisa Colmenarez and Rudy Garcia, were consultants on the Academy Award-nominated Pixar animated film“Coco.” About DanceKids With over 24 years of production history, Dance Kids, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded by Carol Richmond, is proud of its wide range of theatrical experiences that support kids to flourish. In the early days,productionsattheCarmelBalletAcademy included“Nutcracker”andoriginalspringmusicals. Dance Kids was known for fun-loving nostalgia surrounding the musicals and drew from thecommunity a range of young people and their families committed to theater. As it grew, its little venue could not handlethe“Nutcracker”anylonger,butcontinuedasthevenueforthespringproductions,untilthose too outgrew the dancestudio. Dance Kids has grown Dance Kids’ “Nutcracker” into a spectacular production eagerly awaited by cast and community. The original vision of Dance Kids of Monterey County has been honored as well as surpassedinthe ensuingyears.TheFounder,ExecutiveDirectorandtheBoardofDirectorsare proudto carrythetraditionsofdance andtheatertotheMontereyPeninsula. Dance Kids of Monterey County was created to provide ongoing performance opportunities in dance the theaterartstotheyouthofMonterey County.Itsmission is tostrengthencharacter and positively influence children’s lives through the performingarts. iHeartRadioisthemediasponsoroftheFifthAnnualPerformancesof‘AFolkloricoNutcracker. StreetAddress: Sunset Center, Cottage #17 San Carlos Street at 10th Ave., Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA MailingAddress: P.O. Box 6225 Carmel, CA93921 Phone: (831)622-9008 Fax: (831)218-1293 Email:info@dancekids.org

3. Website:dancekids.org Contact: Marci BraccoCain Chatterbox PR Salinas, CA93901 (831)747-7455 http://www.dancekids.org