Heather Walker Director of Jaztabal Dance Inc. in Bordentown NJ, has created the ideal Nutcracker for the holiday season. The story of the Nutcracker is narrated by Drosselmeir, Clara's godfather, and includes audience participation. In the past the company has performed, Scrooge (a ballet for children featuring children), performing this production to enthusiastic audiences for 10 years.
The show is presented by the Bordentown Ballet Theatre, the resident company that Walker founded in 1999. The Nutcracker is staged at Burlington Township Performing Arts Center in the beginning of December each year.
A company of 70 people work together to make the show happen. There are 10 committees that are staffed by parents of the cast members, and a cast of 50 performers who bring the show to life.
Scrooge was first performed in December of 1999, by the Bordentown Ballet Theatre. The creation of the show came out of a request by the parents of several of Heather Walker's students at Jaztabal Dance, Inc. The students were involved in a production of the Nutcracker in Trenton, that Heather was also a performer and choreographer for.
The parents delighted with Heather's work, and ability with children, asked Heather if she would be interested in forming a children's dance company. These parents were willing to do the work, necessary to stage and produce a show. The offer was enthusiastic and full of excitement.
After serious consideration, Heather accepted the offer, and the Bordentown Ballet Theatre was born.
Collaborating on the structure of the show, Heather and Fred outlined the concept. The Nutcracker is "a ballet for children, featuring children", as was Scrooge.