Sara Scruggs, Bill Abercrombie and Breanna Strickland as the two Claras and the Nutcracker Prince in Dance Arts’ ‘The Nutcracker,’ playing next weekend.

For 40 years, Valdosta and Lowndes County have greeted all but one Christmas season with Dance Arts’ and Linda Chase’s production of “The Nutcracker.”

Next weekend, the tradition continues with a new generation of young people, several stalwart performers, the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra providing live instrumentation for the third year, and more with the 40th anniversary performance of Dance Arts’ “The Nutcracker.”

 In 1972, Chase put into effect her long-held dream of presenting a full-length production of “The Nutcracker.” With help from Dave Christian, then the head of Valdosta’s Department of Parks and Recreation, she presented her choreography and students in the first production that same year.

To give a little historical framework, Dance Arts’ first “Nutcracker” hit the stage in the weeks after President Richard Nixon was re-elected to his second term, and it was presented months before the term “Watergate” became a household word. Dance Arts’ “Nutcracker” has continued through eight presidents and the popularity of the dance shows no sign of flagging.

Partly, its success rests on the timeless nature of the original work. Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky based his score on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s story, “Der Nusscrackern und der MauseKoing,” a tale of a young girl’s Christmas Eve gift of a nutcracker soldier and her dreams of their adventures.

On Dec. 18, 1892, Tchaikovsky’s work as a ballet premiered at the Maryinski Theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia.

Valdosta’s “Nutcracker” features the original choreography of Chase, who studied dance in the legendary Ballanchine format in New York and highlights the talents of dozens of local residents.

Born in 1942, the daughter of David and Jane Willard, Linda heard a record of “Sleeping Beauty” playing on a Victrola as a young child. In a past interview, she recalled several moments leading to her life in dance, especially walking up the stairs to a second-floor dance studio in Red Bank, N.J. A downtown building ran by renowned Russian ballerina Hela Slavinska.

Slavinska often spoke in Russian to young Linda Willard and her other small child dancers, but she also spoke in the language of ballet terminology. Linda learned the French terms for her art at a young age.

In 1955, the Willards moved to Jacksonville, Fla. Her father took a new job assignment. Many of her father’s clients were based in Valdosta, a connection which would not have an enduring significance for Linda for another decade.

In Jacksonville, Linda started middle school, but her dance studies continued.

At 13, Linda joined the Ballet Guild of Jacksonville, under the direction of Betty Hyatt Ogilvie. Ogilvie had danced with the New York City Ballet and had studied under the great George Balanchine.

Given this connection, Ogilvie arranged for some of her students to train under Balanchine’s teachers from Russia during summer programs. For four summers, Linda trained with the Balanchine teachers in New York.

By 1959, Linda Willard had caught the eye of the legend himself.

George Balanchine was a genius of ballet. An artist who created his own unique style of dance.

“Balanchine was no-nonsense,” Chase has recalled. “When he walked into a room, everybody stood at attention. He wasn’t mean or nasty, but he was very businesslike. He knew what he wanted and knew what he expected. He was very challenging. He would push you to meet your own abilities. He would ask for something, and you would do it.”

In 1959, Balanchine allowed Linda the chance for a personal audition at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre. He regularly awarded a dozen spots to attend what was the premier ballet school in America. After watching Linda Willard’s audition, he made an exception that year and took 13. Linda was that 13th pupil. She moved to New York City.

Balanchine rarely gave praise but “when he did, you knew it came from his heart,” Chase has recalled. “He was an incredible person to work with.”

She studied under Balanchine for only four months. At the age of 18, Linda fell in love and married. She left Balanchine’s prestigious training for love, and Linda Chase said in 2009 she has never regretted the decision.

“I did so much dancing as a teenager,” she said. “That was my life from 15 to 18 years old. I did so much as far as dancing and performing goes. Saturdays and Sundays practicing in the studio. I was happy with the change.”

Yet, she did not leave dance. She would eventually move to Valdosta, divorce, and marry Ted Chase. In 1970, Linda Chase started her first Valdosta dance group in The Crescent’s auditorium.

In 1972, she held the first performance of her choreographed production of “The Nutcracker.” From 1972-79, Chase not only led the production, she performed in it, dancing as the Sugar Plum Fairy. In 1980, she started hiring people or selecting a student to dance the lead.

With one exception, a year when Mathis City Auditorium was being renovated, Chase and Dance Arts have presented “The Nutcracker” each Christmas season.

THE CAST: Heather Maze, Jay Jernigan, Sara Scruggs, Breanna Strickland, Christopher Gibbs, Bill Abercrombie, Emily Sands, Paren Baerwald, Payten Baerwald, Brittanye Blake, Emily Borchert, Landrey Boutwell, Margaret Anne Cosper, Caroline Dean, Grace Flemer, Katherine Godbee, Kamie Hartley, Mary Grace Holman, Andie Krispin, Libby McCrary, Frankie Patten, Marissa Pennington, Kaia Petersen, Emily Rozier, Sara Scruggs, Truly A. Storm, Hannah Trowell, Caleb Spivey, Dave Ross, Phyllis Childree, Gary L. Moser, Eliza Elliott, Frank Kilgard, Becky Herndon, Kaitlyn Hannay, Steve Hannay, Laura and Michael Walker, Robert and Michelle Byington, Karrin Crozier, Kamie Hartley, Kaia Petersen, David Brandon, Taffy Chase, Deroccius Harris, Shawna Bigelow, Shelby Culbreth, Grace Garland, Andie Krispin, Tolerie Moye, Emily Kate Reagin, Sarah Grace Reaves, Abigail Stallings, Abigale Tillman, Abigail Walker, Donna Dauphinais, Marissa Pennington.

CHOREOGRAPHERS, CREATIVE TEAM: Linda Chase, choreographer, artistic director; Allison Shenton, additional choreography, assistant director; Lynne Brague, Karrin Crozier, Cristin and Jay Jernigan, Ben O’Brien, Shannon Thomas, Kim Tuttle, additional choreographers; Howard Hsu, conductor; Angelia Moser, narrator.

SHOWTIME

Dance Arts Inc. and the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra present “The Nutcracker.”

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30; 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2.

Where: Mathis City Auditorium, 2300 N. Ashley St.

Tickets: $12; $8 for special narrated Saturday matinee performance.

Reservations (required), more information: Visit NutcrackerValdosta.com

More Holiday Events

In addition to “The Nutcracker,” several Christmas events are scheduled for next weekend. The Downtown Valdosta events are part of Main Street’s Winterfest activities, Saturday, Dec. 1. Some of these events include:

• “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” The Dosta Playhouse, 122 N. Ashley St. Gingerbread Players of Theatre Guild Valdosta presents this family production. Synopsis: Never having attended church, a family of six children go to a worship service for the free snacks and are cast in the principal roles for the Christmas pageant. The regular church-goers are none too happy that these wild ones will tell the Christmas story from a different perspective. Show plays 7 p.m., Nov. 29-30; 2:30 p.m., Dec. 1-2. More information: Visit www.theatreguildvaldosta.com

• Breakfast with Santa at the Bleu Café, 125 N. Patterson St., will take place at 8:30, 9:45 and 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. Cost: $10, adults; $5, kids. Reservations: Call Bleu Café , (229) 244-2248.

• First Presbyterian Church, 313 N. Patterson St., hosts a bazaar and bake sale, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. More info: Call (229) 242-8376.

• Open House at the Converse-Dalton-Ferrell House, North Patterson Street, Downtown Valdosta, starts 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. More info: Call (229) 563-5843.

• The Camellia Show at First United Methodist Church, 220 N. Patterson St., 1–6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. More info: Call (229) 242-6416.

• Visits and photo opportunities with Santa begin 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, on the front lawn of the historic Lowndes County Courthouse.

• The WinterFest 5K Run/Walk will begin 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, prior to the Christmas Parade. The WinterFest 5K is sponsored and organized by A Course/Line—Finish Line Service. The race route will begin at the Winn Dixie parking lot, 3200 N. Ashley St., proceed down North Patterson Street, and finish in Downtown Valdosta in front of Bennie’s Alley. More info: Call (229) 219-0010; or visit www.runningintheusa.com for a race application.

• The Greater Valdosta Community Christmas Parade — one of Valdosta’s most popular holiday traditions — will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at Woodrow Wilson Drive, proceed down North Patterson Street, and end at the Department of Health Building. Parade theme: “Christmas Around the World.”  Creative holiday floats will be judged on overall appearance, special effects, creativity, workmanship and use of the theme.

• Valdosta State University Choirs perform Candlelight Concerts, 3, 5, 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, on campus.

The Valdosta Daily Times will present more information on these events, and other holiday events scheduled later in December.