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Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 16, 2009

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - The law firm of Hill Gilstrap P.C. is pleased to sponsor the eighth annual Nutcracker Poster Contest in conjunction with Metropolitan Classical Ballet’s ever-popular production of The Nutcracker.  The contest is open to all grade levels of the Arlington ISD.  Three winners were chosen from each elementary, junior high and senior high level for a total of nine winners who will each receive a substantial cash prize for his or her winning poster.  In addition to the student prizes, the school’s art department of each first prizewinner will receive a cash prize as a reward for their student’s winning entry.

AISD students began working on their entries in October. They were asked to design an 11 X 17 poster illustrating Metropolitan Classical Ballet’s 2009 production of The Nutcracker.  This year, the posters were judged by UTA’s department of Art and Art History.

The poster contest not only fosters student enthusiasm for the school district’s art programs, but it also heightens an awareness of classical ballet while promoting the annual production of The Nutcracker.  Metropolitan Classical Ballet has been more than pleased with the tremendous participation for the past seven years.  Audiences have come to look forward to viewing the award winning artwork from the nine winners which will be on display at all four performances of The Nutcracker to be held at Texas Hall on the campus of the University of Texas in Arlington. Performances will be held this weekend on Friday, December 18th at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, December 19th at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 20th at 2:00 p.m.

Choreographed by Company Artistic Director Alexander Vetrov, the delightful full-length ballet in two-acts is set to the timeless musical score by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, which was composed in 1892. The Metropolitan Classical Ballet Company will be joined by students from the Metropolitan Ballet Academy who will dance the numerous children’s roles. The Academy is the official school of the Company.

Tickets for The Nutcracker range in price from $10 - $30 and are available only through Metropolitan Classical Ballet at (817) 275-0598, or online: www.mcballet.org. Group and individual tickets may be purchased at the administration office by calling (817) 465-4644 or at 500 West Abram Street in Arlington, Texas.

Season sponsors include American Airlines, The University of Texas at Arlington, and the law firm of Hill Gilstrap, P.C..

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Media Note: Further information may be obtained by contacting Mariya Kudyakova at (817) 465-464