Dancing at the NPAC?

So, you wanna dance? Dance and music go hand in hand like peanut butter and jelly. You can hardly enjoy one without the other. Dance at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center is starting to heat up. After this weekend’s concert with Steven Curtis Chapman, which is nearly sold out, we look to “Ballroom with a Twist.” This live stage show, conceived and choreographed by “Dancing with the Stars” Louis Van Amstel, will come to the NPAC stage on October 9 at 3:00 p.m.

This show features dancers many of you have seen on television’s “Dancing with the Stars.” In addition to the talented dancers will be singers who have been seen on “American Idol.” The combination of these two enormous hit TV shows creates one exciting night of live entertainment on the NPAC stage.

This show is currently on sale with tickets ranging from $20-$45. Helping make it possible for us to bring this tremendously popular show to Van Wert is Kim Hohman Danceworks and Lee Kinstle GM Sales. We thank our underwriters for their support. Get your tickets now! Just two and a half weeks remain before this show comes to town.

As we draw closer to the Christmas season, nothing says Christmas tradition like Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker.” It has been four years since we brought “The Nutcracker” to the Niswonger. This year, we chose the Ballet Theatre of Toledo to bring an American flavor to the stage of this beloved Holiday show.

This past Sunday, nearly 40 local young dancers were auditioned for bit parts in this production. You may not recognize them after they take the stage in their various costumes, but you can bet the proud mom and dads will point them out for you.

It should be a wonderful production for everyone to enjoy on December 3. Actually, you can enjoy two performances or just make your choice as we will offer a 2:00 p.m. matinee in addition to our regular 7:30 p.m. show time. For a Saturday during the Christmas season, you will have a choice. You can shop during the day and enjoy the ballet in the evening; or you can catch the ballet in the afternoon and shop in the evening. We aim to please!

By the way, this Nutcracker production will be with a live orchestra in the pit. I guess that’s always better than a dead orchestra in the pit! Ahem…

Much more dance will come to the NPAC later in the season as we feature Irish dance with the show Women of Ireland in February and then the Broadway hit and 2008 Tony Award-winning “In the Heights” takes the stage in May.

So, if dance is your cup of tea, you will love this season at the NPAC. And remember, if you are more a music lover, think of peanut butter and jelly!

FINE’