
Hope Garden Staged a Magical A Winter’s Eve Performance
“It’s magic,” came the quiet conclusion from a young boy in the audience, his whisper carrying more weight than any review. For Hope Garden Children’s Ballet Theatre (HGCBT), that simple reaction captures the heart of A Winter’s Eve—a production that returned this season with an expanded celebration of global traditions.
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Produced by the Poolesville-based nonprofit and performed by children and teens training at Essence Studios, A Winter’s Eve remains a two-act journey designed for families. The format builds on the previous year’s warmly-received production, which blended storytelling, cultural exploration, and classical ballet into an accessible holiday experience for audiences of all ages.
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Act I invited the audience to join a child, played by the gifted Lily Petrella, as she is led by her magical snowman, HGCBT Artistic Director Claire Jones, on an exploration of winter celebrations from various parts of the world.
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Act II transitions into the familiar sparkle of The Nutcracker, focusing on the elegance and discipline of classical ballet. Audiences saw featured performances by a graceful Flower Queen (Alarica DeLongchamp), a gallant Cavalier (Sava Brizhik), and precise, yet ethereal Sugar Plum Fairies (matinee: Kate Borman; evening: Kendall Zimmerman).
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Ms. Jones has described A Winter’s Eve as a production built to welcome newcomers while still delighting seasoned ballet audiences—a balance that has helped the show become a seasonal tradition for many local families.

PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Paolo Galli





















DRESS REHEARSAL, BACKSTAGE & IN THE WINGS
Photos by Karen McNally















MEET HGCBT'S 2025 GUEST CHOREOGRAPHERS
HGCBT feels it is essential to make our productions significant and familiar to our entire community. In order to provide accurate representations of a variety of holiday celebrations, we have partnered with four guest choreographers to work with our dancers to provide dances that are entertaining and authentic. We hope you enjoy their work!
Hope Garden Children's Ballet Theatre
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