2022
A Lavish Holiday Classic
For Long Island
Hailed in its 1995 debut as Long Island's most lavish
Nutcracker, the Seiskaya Ballet production of the classic holiday ballet returns to Stony
Brook's Staller Center in a truly international collaboration, choreographed by world
renowned Russian-born choreographer Valia Seiskaya.
Designed in Poland by the internationally acclaimed artist and designer of
Warsaw television, films and theater, Margaret Piotrowska, the inspired sets were executed
by Scenic Art Studios, Inc., whose Broadway credits include the Tony award winning scenery
for "Sunset Blvd."
Long Island sculptor Matt Targon brought his creative talents to bear in
composing extraordinary dreamscapes for the production. He has created sets for numerous
commercials for major advertisers such as Burger King, Nabisco, and Chevrolet.
The lavish sets and scenery are complimented by the work of nationally
recognized Miami City Ballet Costume Mistress, Haydee Morales. Exquisitely detailed
costumes, with designs from nineteenth century Europe, capture the splendor of the opening
party scene.
An exciting and imaginatively choreographed battle between the menacing
Mouse King and the heroic Nutcracker is the centerpiece of the first act, which ends as
gently falling snow, cropped in a Courier & Ives-like woodland scene, brings Clara to
the start of her wonderful adventure. 
The mystical second act includes strikingly vibrant international costumes
representing Spain, China and Arabia. An enormous growing Christmas tree, an animated
clock, a magical sleigh and a walnut shell sailboat make this traditional holiday fantasy
complete. 
Seiskaya Ballet's widely hailed principal dancers Maya Butkevich, Vivian Ye and Madeleine Martufi, plus gifted first soloists Nina Zhang, Kaede Urso and Michaela Lettiere will be complemented by a cadre of soloists who have been recognized for outstanding performances.
In its forty-second season at the Staller Center, the Seiskaya Ballet is well
established as Long Island's premiere ballet company. The Seiskaya
repertoire includes productions of La Boutique Fantasque, Walpurgis Night, A
Night on Bald Mountain, Paquita, Seasons and MASK.
To add to the delight of young viewers, the Staller Center lobby is graced
with two huge 14’ tall animated mechanical replicas. The first is modeled on the Nutcracker,
and his jaw moves up and down. The second figure, Blinky, is a soldier whose eyes open
close.
About the Artistic Director:
Valia
Seiskaya, a featured soloist with the National Opera of Greece for seventeen years,
has compiled an enviable record as a master teacher and choreographer. Her proteges have
garnered numerous awards in ballet competitions ranging from a Presidential Scholar in the
Arts citation to three gold medals in international competitions. Along with Seiskaya's
seven-time selection as a coach for the American Team to international competitions, in
1994, she was nominated as best teacher and coach at the 16th International Ballet
Competition in Varna, Bulgaria.
Mme. Seiskaya's choreography has propelled her to the top ranks in the
profession. A dance critic noted, "...Seiskaya's ability to utilize each
dancer's talent to its fullest extent is simply remarkable. Her consistency in
producing generation after generation of dancers capable of handling her demanding
choreography make her extraordinary. Her command of the classical
vocabulary has made her work legendary."
Seiskaya Ballet's Nutcracker Home Page