Viral TikTok Ballet Dancer to Star in The Nutcracker with FPAC Holiday Productions

FPAC Holiday Productions will kick off December with the holiday classic: The Nutcracker, presented December 6 and 7 at the Franklin High School Auditorium.

Experience all the festive magic and colorful splendor of The Nutcracker as FPAC stages its cherished annual production of the holiday classic with live orchestra conducted by Steven Lipsitt, special guest artists and more than 100 area dancers. The Nutcracker remains a highly anticipated and treasured part of the FPAC season - a popular holiday tradition for more than 20 years. The world-famous ballet, set to Tchaikovsky’s beloved score, delights the imaginations of audiences young and old with a professional production at a reasonable price. 

Ballet Dancer Louis DeFelice

Ballet Dancer Louis DeFelice, who has gained notoriety for his viral dance-themed TikToks will dance the role of The Cavalier. DeFlice studied under Stanislav Issaev and graduated from the Kirov Academy in Washington, DC. He was most recently a company member with New Jersey Ballet, performing as a principal in Robbins’ Fancy Free, a soloist in Balanchine’s Rubies, and originating a part in the premier of Lauren Lovette’s Jewel Box. He also tours in Europe and the US as a guest artist in shows including The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. He is from Columbia, South Carolina and is the co-founder of the dance wear company Barre Trash.

Joining him as The Sugar Plum Fairy is Mari Takayama. Originally from Japan, Takayama currently resides in NYC where she has performed principal and soloist roles with the Eglevsky Ballet, Connecticut Ballet, City Dance NY, Neville Dance Theatre, and was a trainee with the American Repertory Ballet dancing the lead role of Clara in “The Nutcracker”. Prior to moving to the US, she graduated from the ballet course at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in Japan with two scholarships. During her college years, she organized and choreographed ballet, musical, and contemporary performances. Mari has participated in various intensive programs, including those at American Ballet Theatre, Miami City Ballet, American Academy of Ballet in New York, Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C., and Bolshoi Ballet Academy. Her repertoire includes roles such as Sugar Plum Fairy, Clara, and Dew Drop Fairy in ‘The Nutcracker,’ as well as roles in ‘Flames of Paris,’ ‘Dracula,’ ‘Paquita,’ ‘Don Quixote,’ and ‘Giselle.’

FPAC Holiday Productions are presented at the Franklin High School Auditorium. For tickets and more information, visit www.FPAConline.com or call the box office at 508-528-3370.