Ballet Hawaii Presents Nutcracker 2012

Sept. 25, 2012 - PRLog -- HONOLULU -- Ballet Hawaii is thrilled to announce Nutcracker 2012 at Honolulu’s Blaisdell Concert Hall on November 9, 10 and 11, sponsored by Starwood Hotels and Resorts  and Honolulu Star-Advertiser, featuring Sokvannara (Sy) Sar, star of the critically-acclaimed film “Dancing Across Borders” (http://www.dancingacrossborders.net/); New York City Ballet’s Megan Fairchild, Joaquin De Luz, Andrew Veyette and Sterling Hyltin; Carolina Ballet’s Lilyan Vigo Ellis and Timor Bourtasenkov; plus Broadway’s John Selya and Puanani Brown from American Ballet Theatre.  

Joining these international stars of dance on-stage are more than 185 young and aspiring dancers from across Hawaii in a magical production that always inspires and sets the perfect tone for a beautiful holiday season. Ballet Hawaii is presenting Nutcracker 2012 several weeks in advance of the customary time to accommodate the production of “WICKED” in the same venue. Ballet Hawaii Nutcracker 2012 tickets are on sale now and start at $35.  There is an opening night dinner package available at HASR Bistro which includes parking, dinner, and a VIP seat.

Joining Ballet Hawaii for the first time is Sokvannara (Sy) Sar, star “Dancing Across Borders.” Directed by Anne Bass, “Dancing Across Borders” premiered at the 2009 Seattle Film Festival. The documentary about Sar’s growth as a dancer “peeks behind the scenes into the world of dance and chronicles the intimate and triumphant story of a boy who was discovered, and who only much later discovered all that he had in himself.” Sar was born in Cambodia, where he studied traditional Khmer dance from the age of ten. In 2000, Bass, an American enthusiast and supporter of ballet, saw him there and invited him to visit the School of American Ballet in New York. Sar studied at the School of American Ballet for five years and ultimately joined Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle. Today, he is a soloist with Carolina Ballet.

“Ballet Hawaii is honored to welcome Sy Sar – one of the most fascinating dancers on the world stage today – to Nutcracker 2012,” said John Parkinson, executive director, Ballet Hawaii. “Our early dates in November offer the ideal opportunity to bring the brightest stars of dance to Hawaii – stars such as Sy, Megan Fairchild and Joaquin De Luz. Many of these dancers would otherwise have commitments on the mainland in December and we’re delighted that the timing works in Hawaii’s favor. We’re also pleased to present Nutcracker in advance of the frenzied holiday rush, enabling more families to enjoy our heartwarming production together at a more relaxed time of year.”

Another exciting addition to this year’s cast is local celebrity, Moanike’ala Nabarro, part of KITV 4’s Morning News Team. Moani’s background in hula will undoubtedly shine through in her guest appearance in the ballet’s opening party sequence.

To learn more about Ballet Hawaii or the opening night dinner package at HASR Bistro, http://www.BalletHawaii.org. Ballet Hawaii extends its warmest thanks and Aloha to Starwood Hotels & Resorts Waikiki, the 2011/12 Ballet Hawaii season sponsor. Additional funding provided by the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.

About Sokvannara (Sy) Sar
Sokvannara (Sy) Sar was born in Siem Reap, Cambodia, where he studied traditional Khmer dance from the age of ten at the Wat Bo School. At the age of sixteen, Sar was invited to come to New York to study at the School of American Ballet. Late to begin ballet training, Sar was also coached by the renowned teacher Olga Kostritzky, and after five years he joined Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle. While still an apprentice at Pacific Northwest Ballet, Sar was a semifinalist in the 2006 International Ballet Competition, Varna. The same year, to celebrate the opening of the new United States Embassy complex in Phnom Penh, he was a guest artist at the cross-cultural evening at the Chatomuk Theatre. Sar danced briefly as a freelance artist and with Suzanne Farrell Ballet at the Kennedy Center for the Fall 2010 season. At the invitation of Damian Woetzel, he has also appeared in the Vail International Dance Festivals of 2008, 2010 and 2011. In May 2011, Sar joined Carolina Ballet as a soloist. Sar and his remarkable story are the subject of the documentary film, “Dancing Across Borders,” which was distributed theatrically in Spring 2010 and was recently released on DVD in English and with Khmer subtitles.