Central Park Dance Perform The Nutcracker at the Capitol Theater

Central Park Dance returns to The Capitol Theatre this December with its annual production of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, expanded to three performances. Performances are scheduled for Saturday, December 5, at 5:00 p.m., and Sunday, December 6, at 12:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. American Ballet Theatre's Scout Forsythe will appear as the Sugar Plum Fairy, with former Boston Ballet dancer Tanner Schwartz as her Cavalier.

Tickets at thecapitoltheatre.com.

Since its sold-out premiere in 2016, Central Park Dance's Nutcracker has grown into a Westchester holiday tradition, bringing together more than 100 students from the school, professional guest artists, and young dancers from surrounding communities. Dancers of all ages make up the ensemble, from the littlest mouse to the blizzard of snowflakes, bringing this iconic story to life on the stage known as Westchester's original rock palace.
"Every year, we see how much this production means to our dancers and to the families who return to The Capitol Theatre to celebrate the holidays with us," said Maria Bai and Mario LaStrada, founders and directors of Central Park Dance. "For so many of our students, The Nutcracker is their first opportunity to perform on a professional stage, and it's especially meaningful to watch them grow into new roles year after year. Adding a third performance allows us to welcome even more families and give our dancers another opportunity to share everything they've worked so hard to create."
Central Park Dance's The Nutcracker is directed by Patricia Arenson, in collaboration with Artistic Director Maria Bai.

Central Park Dance is one of the longest-running and most respected dance studios in Westchester for more than 45 years, Central Park Dance offers classic and progressive styles of dance and fitness for both adults and children. After more than 40 years in Scarsdale, the studio opened its new home at 165–171 South Central Avenue in Hartsdale in September 2025. With over 200 classes per week, classes in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Contemporary, Tap, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Heels and Belly Dancing are offered seven days a week. In addition to dance, a comprehensive fitness schedule offers a full menu of classes in a range of levels. Central ParkDance is also home to the Signature and Remixx performance companies as well as the Ballet Academy, which provides the aspiring dancer with pre-professional training, performance opportunities and mentorships.