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Moscow Ballet presents The Great Russian Nutcracker in Asheville

November 18, 2014

Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker is the holiday tradition for families in over 70 North American cities.  We are excited that this ballet will be coming to the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium this holiday season.

Not only will the Moscow Ballet be performing with their professional ballet ballerinas/danseurs but Center Stage Ballet will have 60 students performing in this professional production as part of the Dance with Us program.

My friend, Sarah, had the opportunity to speak with Carolina Siscanu, the Audition Director for the 2013 North American tour of the Moscow Ballet’s Nutcracker.   As a member of the Moscow Ballet Carolina travels the world dancing and as the Audition Director of the Ballet’s Dance with Us program she travels the US teaching children to dance making sure that everyone is prepared for the performance. 

Here are a few fun facts about Carolina.

·         Carolina thrives on meeting new people and traveling to new cities.

·         Carolina’s favorite thing about her job is traveling and working with the many children.

·         Carolina speaks five different languages – Romanian, Russian, English, French and Spanish.

·         Carolina started dancing early in life. 

·         Carolina entered the National School of Ballet in Moldova when she was nine years old and graduated in 2009. 

·         Carolina has danced with a variety of companies, performing in places like Spain, Sweden and China.

·         Carolina has danced with Moscow Ballet for five years.

The Moscow Ballet forms a relationship with a dance studio in each town that they will perform in.  Carolina goes to that town a couple months in advance and meets with children who audition to dance in the show.  The children are divided into different roles: mice, party children and snowflakes, among others.

Carolina spends several days with the children and their teachers, showing them the dance routines for each part. After Carolina leaves, the local dance teachers continue to prepare the children for their big night.  In Asheville, Carolina taught 60 children at Center Stage Dance Studio.


Carolina will be back in Asheville on December 10 at the Thomas Wolfe Auditoriumdancing in the Great Russian Nutcracker beside her students.  She will see all their work come together to create a night of magic and dance.

Purchase tickets for the Great Russian Nutcracker at the US Cellular Center box office, or
click here to purchase tickets online.  Be sure to watch for the opportunity to win two tickets in next week’s Asheville Macaroni Kid newsletter.