Holiday Favourite The Nutcracker Returns with Talent Trust Dance Scholarship Recipients in the Cast

Scene from The Nutcracker. This year's holiday favourite runs December 7-16 at the Rebecca Cohn in Halifax.

Holiday favourite The Nutcracker returns to the stage in Halifax December 7-16, with a number of Talent Trust dance scholarship recipients in the cast: Anais Grant Church, Ellery Jackson, Vivian Macnab, Alexis Milligan, Maggie Oates-Johnson, and Mollie Oates-Johnson.

Leica Hardy, who has taught many Talent Trust scholarship recipients through the Leica Hardy School of Dance, celebrates her 28th year as the director/choreographer.

Symphony Nova Scotia, in partnership with Halifax Dance and Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, presents the magical tale, which features larger-than-life puppets, spirited dancing, and the beloved music of Tchaikovsky.

Details
Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax
December 7-16, 2018

Tickets
$15 and up (student/child)
$30 and up (adult)

Showtimes vary, with evening and afternoon performances. For more information and tickets, visit the Symphony Nova Scotia website.

Devoted to Dance - Meet Ballet Dancer and Student Maggie Oates-Johnson

Maggie Oates-Johnson is one of the Talent Trust’s younger scholarship recipients. She's also one of the seven who appear in our 75th anniversary scholarship campaign video.

Maggie received her first scholarship and won the Talent Trust Robert George Jackson Award in 2017. 

That award was established in 2011 and, if merited, is awarded to a scholarship recipient who shows exceptional commitment and potential in dance.

Behind the scenes at the Talent Trust video
shoot. Photo: Filet Production Services.

Maggie received a second scholarship in 2018 to study at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Connecticut. In the summer of 2016 and 2017 she attended Canada’s National Ballet School. 

Maggie began her journey in dance at the age of three, under the watchful eye of teacher Leica Hardy. She’s danced with KiDanCo, the pre-professional company at the Leica Hardy School of Dance in Dartmouth, Halifax Dance, the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, and has performed in Symphony Nova Scotia’s The Nutcracker since 2014. She recently performed as a Local Participant in Anastasia with Canada’s Ballet Jorgen.

Tina Oates-Johnson watches daughter Maggie rehearse.

Dance is a big part of the Oates-Johnson household. Maggie’s elder sister Mollie is also a Talent Trust scholarship recipient. She began her studies with Leica Hardy, and in addition to being part of the KiDanCo company, Mollie has attended summer sessions at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Canada’s National Ballet School, and The School of Alberta Ballet.

In addition to great teachers and mentors, family often plays a significant role in a young artist’s development. Dancers need clothing, footwear and lessons, and there’s the time and travel to rehearsals and performances. It takes a lot to get a performer to the stage.

Maggie’s parents, Tina and Trevor, appear with her in our 75th anniversary scholarship campaign video. We’d like to thank them, along with Maggie, for being so generous with their time to work with us to make our video project truly special.




Want to be part of the campaign to double Talent Trust scholarship funds? Click here to donate. And thank you!

Dancers Ellery Jackson, Vivian Macnab, Maggie Oates-Johnson, Mollie Oates-Johnson Perform in KiDanCo Spring 2018 Season

A talented group of choreographers and emerging dancers hit the stage when KiDanCo, the resident pre-professional company for emerging dance artists at the Leica Hardy School of Dance present their 7th annual Spring Season of contemporary dance repertoire.

When and where:

May 12 and 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Matinee May 13 at 2:30 p.m.

DANSpace-On-Grafton 

1531 Grafton Street, Halifax

Among the twelve engaging young dance artists from the Leica Hardy School of Dance who comprise the company are KiDanCo's 2018 spring poster gal (pictured above) Mollie Oates-Johnson, and (left to right, below) Ellery Jackson, Vivian Macnab, and Maggie Oates-Johnson.

  

Tickets are $23 for adults, $16 for students (12+) and seniors (65+), and $11 for children. 

To purchase, please contact info@leicahardyschoolofdance.com or phone 466-0101. Tickets at the door are cash only.

KiDanCo Presents Studio Sightings: An Open Public Rehearsal

What better way to mark International Dance Day than an open public rehearsal? Leica Hardy School of Dance invites you to bring a donation on Saturday, April 28 to see rehearsals and performances of six works, including two premieres. 

Among the talented group are a number of Talent Trust scholarship recipients:

• Ruth-Ellen Kroll Jackson
• Ellery Jackson
• Maggie Oates-Johnson
• Vivian Macnab

Here’s the lineup:

• To Pulsate by Ruth-Ellen Kroll Jackson
• Retraction by Kendra Armstrong
• Premiere of new work by Anastasia Wiebe
• A Tale of Obscure Sorrows (Premiere) by Darryl Tracy
• Dvorak Serenades by Leica Hardy
• Upstream by Leica Hardy

Performances run from 4:00 - 6:30pm in Room #5 at the North Woodside Community Centre, 230 Pleasant Street, Dartmouth.