Downers Grove ballerina to perform with Moscow Ballet Dec. 10

CHICAGO, ILL – This holiday season Downers Grove's Elisa Maguigad will do more than dream about the Sugar Plum Fairy, she will share both stage and spotlight with her. The 14-year old Maguigad has been selected to perform alongside members of the esteemed Moscow Ballet in a performance of “The Great Russian Nutcracker.” The performance takes place at 3 p.m. December 10, 2011, at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont, IL.

Maguigad joins 43 other talented young dancers from Chicago and surrounding suburbs in the heartwarming ballet which, since its inauspicious debut in 1892, has become a popular holiday tradition.

This is the fifth year the talented Downers Grove dancer has had the opportunity to perform in such elite company.

Maguigad has been taking dance lessons since the age of four and has excelled at the highest levels. “I've had so much fun and feel lucky to have had this opportunity available to me,” said the young dancer about her experience performing with the Moscow Ballet.

All of the young dancers chosen to perform with the Moscow Ballet were hand selected after an open and lengthy audition process held in late summer. Overseen by representatives of the Moscow Ballet and Altin Naska, co-founder and artistic director of the Southport Performing Arts Conservatory (SPACE). Naska oversees the 10 weeks of intensive rehearsals that ready the young performers for this opportunity of a lifetime.

“The Moscow Ballet is one of the greatest names in the history of ballet,” said Altin Naska who has developed a strong professional relationship with the group over the past five years. “This is an unforgettable opportunity for the young dancers to share the stage with award-winning and internationally recognized principal dancers such as Karyna Shatkovskaya and Vladimir Tkachenko and is a moment that will last a life time.”

Moscow Ballet's “The Great Russian Nutcracker” has toured America and Canada for 19 years as the largest Russian ballet tour in North America. The production features larger than life puppets, nine hand-painted backdrops with 3-D effect, and hundreds of exquisite costumes.

For more information about “The Great Russian Nutcracker” visit www.nutcracker.com. Tickets for this performance are available through Ticketmaster.