By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
Holiday traditions are where memories are made. For 19 years, Julie’s Dance Studio has offered a holiday tradition with performances of “The Nutcracker Ballet…All Jazzed Up.”
Julie Setzer, director of dance, and the studio dancers are ready to share four live performances of the magical show this weekend at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts on the campus of Owens Community College, 7270 Biniker Road, Perrysburg.
The classic story, based on the 1816 fairy tale written by E.T.A. Hoffmann, follows Claire on Christmas Eve as her nutcracker doll comes to life and leads her on a magical adventure.
This year’s show is a warm-up to the 20th year in 2026.
“Every year we try to change it up,” Setzer said. “We made a lot of changes this year in preparation for next year when it will be our 20th year.”
They have added some contemporary dances and hip-hop routines. “Some fun little changes are included to give it another punch of energy,” she said.
The dress rehearsal performance on Sunday at the Star Theatre in the Woodland Mall, opened with “Miss Julie” surrounded by a group of young girls listening to her read a Christmas Eve story to set the scene for what’s to come.
“It’s Christmas Eve and excitement fills the air as the guests arrive for our most enchanting holiday party. Uncle Drosselmeyer arrives with his box of wonders…ballerina dolls, stone-faced military soldiers, three lively peppermints who dance with sugary delight. But the best gift of all—a very special nutcracker—is reserved for his beloved niece Claire,” she read.
“As Claire drifts into slumber with her beloved nutcracker, she’ll discover the magic is closer than she thinks,” she said as she sends the youngsters off to bed.
The magic is unveiled in two acts, with scenes featuring some of the wonders presented by Uncle Drosselmeyer from the ballerinas to the soldiers and the peppermints to the nutcracker. The dances with the young children are delightful including the small mice and the Gifts of the Children. The more experienced dancers show off their prowess from plies and pointe to pirouettes in perfect form.
The costumes are stunning for any Nutcracker production, but especially considering Julie’s Dance studio is a small, local dance company. The gems and glitter of the costumes sparkle especially in the spotlights of the Snow Queen (Kyleah Grubb) and the Waltz of the Snowflakes, Flower Queen (Nina Snyder) and the Waltz of the Flowers, and Dream Claire.
The mix of music ranges from the magical and whimsical tunes, including some of Tchaikovsky’s most-recognized pieces—”Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” and “Waltz of the Flowers.” The music aligns with the dances, with the contemporary dances and hip-hop backed up by more modern, electronic recordings.
The studio offered a sneak peek at the Wood County District Public Library on Nov. 9 and “for those who can’t make it up to Owens,” the final dress rehearsal on Sunday was open to guests from Harbor’s Devlac Hall, area nursing homes and group homes.
“We have connections with these groups, parents that work in the field, so we decided, ‘Why not reach out to these people that we know and have connections with,’” Setzer said. “We are very community-oriented, because the community has always been supportive of us.”
The Nutcracker moved from the Bowling Green Schools’ Performing Arts Center to Owens’ Fine and Performing Arts Center a few years ago to accommodate more people. The studio’s theater at the mall isn’t large enough for the audiences who attend the show each year.
“We have got a lot of special effects that we can do at Owens that we just don’t have the equipment to do, and we only have a need for it once a year,” Setzer said.
Performances are Friday (Nov. 21) at 7 p.m., Saturday (Nov. 22) at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday (Nov. 23) at 2 p.m. Click here to buy tickets online, or visit the website for more information.
The Nutcracker Ballet…All Jazzed Up” is the perfect prescription for finding the holiday spirit.
“We have paid tribute to the original score, with a lot of traditional, classic music in it, but we’ve also amped it up quite a bit,” Setzer said. “If you’ve got a 4-year-old to a 14-year-old, they’re going to enjoy this show because it is fast-paced. There’s something for everybody.”
