Preserving Missoula's Nutcracker for our Children and Community...and Celebrating our 35th Anniversary
Garden City Ballet (GCB) is the home of Missoula's very own production of The Nutcracker. We proudly offer this holiday tradition and are lucky to work with outstanding performers and their families, as well as exceptional teachers, choreographers and guest artists from across the region and country. GCB does not operate its own dance studio. Instead, we invite all dancers, regardless of studio affiliation, to audition for what has become a treasured community event!
1984 The Nutcracker, Party Scene
Congratulations to our 2019 Scholarship Recipients!
GCB awarded a total of $1865 to the following dancers who applied for a scholarship to study this summer:
- Oscar Duffield - Oregon Ballet Theater School
- Eva Joy Erickson - Showtyme Jazz/Contemporary Intensive
- Olivia Farnes - NYCDA Nationals
- Cate Gibbons - Ballet Arts Academy and Showtyme (summer ballet intensives)
- Audrey Kurz - GCB Nutcracker Audition Boot Camp
- Sylvie Nelson - Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet
- Lydia West - GCB Nutcracker Audition Boot Camp
Missoula Gives - Thank You Everyone!
Garden City Ballet took part in this online crowdfunding event (May 2-3) and raised $7635! We received donations online from 30 individuals (scroll down for listing), and collected over $100 from folks strolling the avenue on First Friday. We attribute an anonymous donor match for our tremendous success. Once we hit our organization's goal of $3500, we received a matching donation of $3500! There are no words to describe the gratitude we feel.
Mother Ginger and two Gingersnaps entertained First Friday crowds in front of One Eleven Boutique on Higgins Ave. Thank you to One Eleven Owner, Paige Livingston, for hosting our table! And, thank you to each of our donors for continuing to support The Nutcracker. We'll be reinvesting these funds to rebuild the hoop skirt and create a new costume for Mother Ginger, as well as redesigning costumes for the wee Snaps!
A Round of Applause for Missoula Gives Donors!
Peyton Size
Julie Gardner
Angela Harrington
Deborah Gass
Shannon Farnes
Susan Tucker
Jessica Sebold-Kagol
Melissa and John Hart
Jes Mullette
Dady Family
Kate and George Ybarra
Kathleen Ort
Elizabeth and Chris Johns
Talla Gass
Drum Coffee
Lori Stevens
Thea Goodwin
Stergios Family
Bonnie and Chris Smith
Julie Fogarty
Elena Furrow and Robert Headley
Caroline Kurz
And, thanks to our Anonymous donors, too!
Welcome to our 2019 Artistic Team!
CLICK HERE to download press release.
2019 Audition Boot Camp
CLICK HERE for registration form. Early registration ends June 30.
Open Auditions - The Nutcracker
Dates: September 6 and 7, 2019
Location: Ballet Arts Academy
Times: CLICK HERE to download the schedule.
See "Nutcracker" and "Auditions" page for more information.
Online registration appreciated by September 1. Onsite registration (walk in) also accepted.
2019 Performance Dates
Friday, December 13 (10:00am) - Free School Show - closed to public
Friday, December 13 (7:30 pm) - Opening Night
Saturday, December 14 (2:00 pm matinee)
Saturday, December 14 (7:30 pm evening)
Sunday, December 15 (2:00 pm matinee)
Sunday, December 15 (6:00 pm evening)
Nutcracker Photo Gallery
GCB has posted years of photos online. The gallery is password-protected (dream). Digital, high-resolution downloads are available for purchase ($2 each). Click on the square, black "button" to the left (Enter Photo Gallery) and enjoy the many memories!
Thank You to our Donors!
GCB has a proud tradition of sponsoring a free school performance (K - 8th grade) for children who might not otherwise have exposure to classical ballet and the performing arts. To offset the cost of providing a matinee performance for 500 kids in Missoula and surrounding rural areas, we reach out to our community and raise funds each year. GCB is grateful to our donors who make holiday dreams come true! (For more information, please visit our Fundraising page.)