Alborada to dance 'A Spanish Nutcracker'

The Monroe Township Cultural Arts Commission will present the Alborada Spanish Dance Company in a performance of "Sueno de Una Nina: A Spanish Nutcracker" at 3 p.m. on Nov. 18 at the Richard P. Marasco Center for the Performing Arts, Monroe Township High School, Perrineville Road.

The new production celebrates the diversity of Spain's dances and music spanning seven centuries, while embracing the themes of the holiday classic "Nutcracker" tale.

The story will follow Clarita and her family and friends as they celebrate Three Kings Day in the Plaza de Toros, where everyone will dance and watch as the kings present gifts to all. When Clarita's naughty brother Fernando breaks a matador doll given to his sister by their aunt, Tia Maria, he begins a chain of events that transports Clarita to magical places.

The brave matador and his little picadors and matadors will engage in a battle against the Great Toro King, danced to the farruca, the dance and music of the bullfight. Clarita will then be taken to the Land of the Majas, where dances will include the 19th-century Goyescas, the colorful verdiales, the Gypsy flamenco and more.

Tickets cost $14 for the general public, $12 for patrons; students will be admitted free of charge. Call the box office at (732) 521-4400, ext. 134, to reserve.

The program has been made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment of the Arts, through a grant provided by the Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission/Board of Chosen Freeholders. Funding for the performance is provided in part by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and the American Music Center Live Music for Dance Program.

The mission of the nonprofit Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre (Eva Lucena, executive and artistic director) is the cultivation and preservation of dances and music from Spain.

For more information, call Lucena at (732) 255-4071, e-mail alboradadance@aol.com or log on to www.alboradadance.org.