Bucks County Dancers Tackle Professional-Grade Choreography In Holiday Classic

The Mid-Atlantic Dance Theater returns to the stage this December with its holiday production of “The Nutcracker,” marking the first time the company has performed the classic ballet since 2019.

The student-based production features approximately 70 dancers ranging from 6-year-olds to high school seniors from around Bucks County and the larger region.

The holiday classic has performances scheduled for this weekend at the Zlock Performing Arts Center at Bucks County Community College in Newtown Township.

“It’s returning after six years with our last performance in 2019,” said Liz Fitchett Jovovich, who leads the company and Newtown Township-based The Dance Ground alongside co-artistic directors Andreas Jovovich and Priscilla Garner. “Once COVID hit, of course, that put things on hold for a couple years, and then we moved our space.”

The production will show off the growth of young dancers who have worked through increasingly challenging roles, with many students progressing from simple party scenes as children to principal roles as teenagers over the years.

The company’s approach emphasizes technical strength and performance quality, preparing students who aspire to professional dance careers, Fitchett Jovovich said.

“With the exception of one student, this is the first time these dancers are partnering,” Fitchett Jovovich said. “And I mean, they’re doing heavy-duty partnering. It’s not just hold my hand and walk me across the stage. They’re doing real dancing.”

The production features full pas de deux – complex partnered dances between male and female dancers that include multiple lifts and pirouettes.

Professional male dancers from Pace University in New York join the cast as the Snow King, Arabian Prince, and Gypsy King. They are partnering with local female dancer, Fitchett Jovovich said.

“They’re in awe that these girls have never partnered before. But they’re strong dancers,” Fitchett Jovovich explained.

The production represents is multi-generational effort, with several parent-child pairs performing together in party scenes. Five sets of mothers and fathers dance alongside their children, including seven fathers and one grandfather participating in the grandfather’s dance.

“These parents are making memories with their kids,” Fitchett Jovovich said.

The company maintains strong family connections, with seven former students now bringing their own children to train at the studio. Some of these multi-generational families span decades of involvement with the organization.

Layla Goodwin, a senior at Neshaminy High School, is part of the long-term commitment to dance. She began dancing with the company at age 2 and now performs the lead role of Sugar Plum Fairy.

“I have been dancing at The Dance Ground since I’ve been 2 years old,” Goodwin stated. “I started off in a mommy and me class. And apparently, I was crazy back then. I would just, like, run around the studio.”

Goodwin’s progression through the company illustrates a path for dedicated students, according to Fitchett Jovovich.

The high schooler began as a lead angel, advanced to the doll role, then Clara, and now performs the coveted Sugar Plum Fairy part.

“I remember looking up to the older kids,” Goodwin said. “Now the fact that I’m the one doing their roles are crazy to me.”

The demanding rehearsal schedule requires a big time commitment from student performers.

Dancers train Monday through Thursday after school, all day Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday rehearsals dedicated specifically to Nutcracker preparation, Fitchett Jovovich said.

“It’s like more than 20 hours a week,” Goodwin said of the total time commitment between dance training and Neshaminy musical theater rehearsals.

The holiday production involves approximately 90 to 100 people when including cast, crew, and volunteer parents.

The company uses more than 220 costumes across different scenes and character roles.

“Without those groups of people, the production wouldn’t run as smoothly,” Fitchett Jovovich said of the volunteer parents who handle decorating, dressing room supervision, and other logistical support. “You can’t possibly hire that many people to do that many jobs.”

The return of Nutcracker serves as preparation for the company’s next major opportunity. In January, select dancers will perform in Destiny Rising, a showcase in New York featuring professional companies.

“They’re jumping out of Nutcracker and turning around in three weeks and doing a performance in New York,” Fitchett Jovovich said. “Our dancers will have the opportunity to dance on stages with professional companies.”

For many students, the intensive training and performance experience provides preparation for potential professional dance careers.

Goodwin recently auditioned at Pace University, University of Arizona, and Point Park University for college dance programs while also planning to double major in business.

The intensive rehearsal schedule creates strong bonds between students and instructors, Fitchett Jovovich said.

“They spend more time with us at the studio than they do at home because they’re in school all day,” Fitchett Jovovich said. “They become like a family.”

Performances take place Saturday, Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 21 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Zlock Performing Arts Center at 275 Swamp Road in Newtown Township.

For more information and to get tickets, click here.