Delayed “Nutcracker” performance to be streamed by Viterbo in March

It may seem like Christmas again already, with a new blanket of snow on the ground, and at the Viterbo Fine Arts Center, there was a Christmas feel this weekend, as local dancers were performing the “Nutcracker” ballet on stage. 

The La Crosse Dance Centre was videotaping its 31st annual “Nutcracker” performance for streaming on-line next month. 

Dance Centre director Nikki Balsamo says COVID-19 restrictions have changed the traditional ballet, by requiring the dancers to keep a certain distance from each other, and to wear face masks while dancing.  

Not only was the usual live “Nutcracker” cancelled in December, but the videotaping which was scheduled for that month had to be postponed because of a local COVID surge at the time.

Balsamo says her students are preparing for live performances again later this year.

“We do have two performances in the spring,” said Balsamo. “We’re planning on doing that in our parking lot, on a special dance floor. And then we are having a show June 5th at Riverside Park in the bandshell.”  

Viterbo is selling reservations to view the “Nutcracker” on-line, when it is streamed between March 6th and 20th.