Carolina Ballet's upcoming season won't include family series

The Carolina Ballet, which celebrates its 15th anniversary during the upcoming season, won't have specially designated family shows.

Posted 12:15 a.m. Apr 6, 2012 — Updated 12:15 a.m. Apr 6, 2012

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

The Carolina Ballet just wrapped up its performances of The Little Mermaid. The show, along with Beauty and the Beast in May and Cinderella late last year, are part of the ballet's family series.

But next season, which opens in September, won't include a specially designated family series, though all of the shows are appropriate for children.

The ballet tells me that there's no one reason for the change. There are some special programs planned next season as part of the 15th anniversary celebration.

And the family favorite Nutcracker will open earlier than usual next season. The ballet, which will again feature magical elements, will open on Thanksgiving weekend. For the past several years, that weekend has been reserved for one of the ballet's children's shows.

I will miss the family shows next season. They are a great way to expose kids to ballet with familiar stories that help spark and keep their interest. I hope we see them again.

Here's what next season's schedule at the Progress Energy Center for Performing Arts in Raleigh looks like:

An Evening of Robert Weiss, September 13-30, 2012
Dancers at a Gathering, October 11-28, 2012
Nutcracker, November 23-25 & December 14-23, 2012 (Two performances also are scheduled at the Durham Performing Arts Center on Dec. 27)
An Evening of Lynne Taylor-Corbett, February 7-24, 2013
A Balanchine Celebration, March 7-24, 2013
Fancy Free & Carolina Jamboree, April 18-21, 2013
Giselle, May 16-19, 2013

You can buy subscription packages now by calling the Carolina Ballet box office at 919-719-0900. Subscribers also get the first opportunity to purchase Nutcracker tickets. Single tickets go on sale to the general public on Sept. 4.

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