Step into the magic of the season with the STARS Dance Winter Concert,
“Nutcracker Remix” taking place on December 3–4, 2025, at the
Bradford Performing Arts Center. Both evenings begin at 6:00 p.m., featuring joyful, high-energy performances from our talented dancers in Dance Electives as well as our After School Dance Classes in grades 4 through 12.
“Nutcracker Remix” combines all the elements of a traditional Nutcracker story but includes the original origin story of how the Nutcracker came to be. E.T.A. Hoffman’s original literary story, “The Nutcracker & the Mouse King” features a powerful and vengeful Queen Mouserink who curses the Nephew of Drosselmeyer, a clock maker, for building the traps that kill her 7 sons. In retaliation, she transforms his nephew into an ugly, wooden nutcracker doll with an enormous head and the curse can only be broken by true love’s kiss from Princess Pirlipat. Once the spell is broken, they travel to the Land of Sweets, where they are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy. Act 2 features various celebratory dances from the original Nutcracker Ballet, including the Spanish (Chocolate), Arabian (Coffee), Chinese (Tea), and Russian (Candy Cane), along with the Marzipan (Mirlitons), Mother Ginger & her Polichenelles, and the Waltz of the Flowers.
There are many elements updating this Nutcracker besides the storyline. The music features many remixes of traditional songs with a Modern twist which has peaked the interest of the dancers involved & helped them spark new energy into an old holiday favorite. The Dance styles include Classical Ballet with fun elements such as an EDM remake of “Carmen” for Spanish in Act 2 with fans featuring LED lights. Queen Mouserink’s dark Character Ballet solo is backed up by Contemporary dancers in “You Should See me in a Crown.” Tapping Soldiers include 3 different tap classes and the battle scene features Jazz dancers to the popular K-Pop song, “Take Down.” Aerial classes build a giant skirt for the suspended Mother Ginger as her Polichenelles enter in the high energy Ballet featuring beginning & intermediate Ballet students. Chinese dancers include traditional chinese water sleeves in their choreography. Hip Hop classes lock and pop to remixes of classics in “Nutcracker Swagger.”
If you are nostalgic for the original holiday tradition, there will be plenty of classics presented in their traditional form such as: Waltz of the Flowers, featuring 30 Intermediate Ballet students. Marzipan, Waltz of the Snowflakes, & Candy Canes all follow the traditional choreography of Act 2.
The Holiday Dance Show is more than a performance—it’s a reflection of the STARS commitment to arts education and student growth. Including over 100 students involved in Dance Electives & the After School Dance Program and 7 choreographers under the direction of Carmen Jones, this production is sponsored by the Arts Council of Moore County. Through the performing arts, students build confidence, develop teamwork, and learn how to communicate emotion through rhythm and motion. For families, this event is the perfect way to welcome the holidays, celebrate community, and support the incredible effort these young artists have poured into their craft.
Join us for an unforgettable evening filled with lights, laughter, and holiday cheer. Bring your family, invite your friends, and experience the warmth and wonder of the “Nutcracker Remix” at the Bradford Performing Arts Center. Together, we’ll celebrate not just the season, but the boundless creativity of our students who make STARS shine brighter every year.
