Meet Andrew Dransfield – Beau
Andrew Dransfield joins Clara’s Trip: A Cirque & Dance Nutcracker Story as Beau, bringing over 15 years of performance experience to the stage. Starting as a breakdancer, Andrew’s passion for movement led him through parkour, tricking, and into circus arts like Trampwall, Russian Swing, Chinese Pole, and Sway Pole. Eventually, he found his true calling in aerial arts – finally giving him permission to hang from anything he wants!
Andrew’s performed with top entertainment companies, amusement parks, and most recently with Dolly Parton’s Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show and Dolly Parton’s Stampede. His incredible mix of skills promises an unforgettable performance!
🗓 Catch Andrew in action:
Dec. 20-22: Raleigh
Dec. 27-29: Charlotte
🎟️ 20% off tickets UNTIL NOVEMBER 15 – Use the promo code and get yours now (link in bio).
#ClarasTrip #MeetTheCast #AndrewDransfield #Beau #DanceAndCircus #AerialArts #CharlotteArts #RaleighEvents #HolidayShow #clarastrip #cltarts #ncarts #cltevents #nutcracker #cltnutcracker
Making his Clara’s Trip debut, Russell Woo joins us as Mr. Gingerbread! Originally from Texas, Russell is a talented dancer, aerialist, and musician who studied at the Royal Academy in London. He’s graced iconic stages like the Apollo Victoria, Wembley Arena, Wigmore Hall, and the Royal Albert Hall. Since returning to the U.S. in 2014, Russell has dedicated himself to performing, training, and coaching across multiple disciplines, from contemporary and jazz dance to aerial arts and acrobatics.
Beyond performing, Russell is the visionary behind Piano in the Sky – a stunning apparatus combining music and aerial artistry on a suspended piano. 🎶 When he’s not on stage, he also works on projects supporting corporate digital strategy and international development.
🗓 See Russell bring Mr. Gingerbread to life:
Dec. 20-22: Raleigh
Dec. 27-29: Charlotte
🎟️ 20% off tickets – Use the promo code and get yours now (link in bio)!
#ClarasTrip #MeetTheCast #RussellWoo #MrGingerbread #CirqueAndDance #AerialArts #CharlotteArts #RaleighEvents #HolidayMagic #clarastrip #cltarts #ncarts #cltevents #nutcracker #cltnutcracker
Meet Ashley Carter – Our Mrs. Gingerbread!
We’re thrilled to have Ashley Carter back, performing as Mrs. Gingerbread in Clara’s Trip: A Cirque & Dance Nutcracker Story!
Ashley first graced our stage in 2021 with stunning performances in Animalia and Random Acts of Kindness. Onstage, she’s a firecracker; offstage, she’s a thoughtful, warm soul.
Ashley is an accomplished dancer, teacher, and choreographer with extensive training in New York and a diverse background in ballet, lyrical, modern, tap, hip-hop, contemporary, and musical theatre. She has performed and choreographed at prestigious venues like Jacob’s Pillow, Teatro Madrid, Battery Dance Festival, and NYC’s SummerStage. Currently, she’s on the faculty at Ballet Academy East and Ellison Ballet, and her teaching has taken her worldwide!
Her choreography credits include co-directing DoubleTake Dance, performing at City Parks Summerstage and Battery Dance Festival, and collaborating with artists like Ricky Martin, Nicki Minaj, and NeYo. You may have also seen her work in commercials for Nike, Microsoft, and Lush Cosmetics! 🎬
🗓 Catch Ashley’s spicy performance:
Dec. 20-22: Raleigh
Dec. 27-29: Charlotte
🎟️ 20% off tickets – Use the promo code and grab yours now (link in bio)!
#ClarasTrip #MeetTheCast #AshleyCarter #DancerAndChoreographer #MrsGingerbread #CirqueAndDance #CharlotteArts #RaleighEvents #HolidayShow #clarastrip #cltarts #ncarts #cltevents #nutcracker #cltnutcracker
We’re excited to welcome back Javier Gonzalez for his seventh year in Clara’s Trip: A Cirque & Dance Nutcracker Story. This year, he shines as a Party Goer in Act 1, takes the stage as Dr. Javy in the Hospital Scene (this is him as Nurse Javy in 2019 😂), and dazzles as an Aerial Flower in Act 2. 🌸
Javier has performed in Clara’s Trip for the past six years in various roles, including Beau and Candy Cane. His dance journey began in 2008, studying hip-hop and Latin styles, later joining Ballet Folclórico de las Americas and LeColours Latino Dance. From 2010-2015, he was the principal dancer for CPCC Dance Theater’s modern department and has also danced with ECHO Contemporary Dance and the Moving Poets of Charlotte.
As a backup dancer, Javier has performed with Latin artists like Las Fenix, Jorge Celedon, and former Miss Universe Alicia Machado. On the side, he enjoys teaching Latin dance to girls preparing for their quinceañeras. When he’s not performing, Javier manages Brixx Pizza in Fort Mill, SC.
🗓 See him live:
Dec. 20-22: Raleigh
Dec. 27-29: Charlotte
🎟️ 20% off tickets – Use the promo code and get yours today (link in bio)!
#ClarasTrip #MeetTheCast #JavierGonzalez #DanceAndCirque #AerialPerformer
#CharlotteArts #RaleighEvents #HolidayMagic #clarastrip #cltarts #ncarts #cltevents #nutcracker #cltnutcracker
Meet Rachel Nesnevich! ✨🎪
She is performing the role of Bracelet.
Rachel is an incredible aerialist, hula hooper, dancer, and lifelong performer, bringing her unique blend of dance and circus to stages around the world! 🌍 She has performed internationally and across the U.S., but you’ll often find her moving and grooving in Chicago, IL. Currently, she’s a cast member in Brave Space directed by Shayna Swanson and has graced festivals like Montréal Complètement Cirque, Edinburgh Fringe, Circusstad Festival, and more!
Rachel began her dance journey at just four years old, and her passion for performing has only grown since. At Oberlin College, she discovered circus arts, which led her to perform with Aerial Dance Chicago and graduate from Aloft Circus Arts’ Full Time Professional Training program.
🗓 Catch her in Clara’s Trip:
• Dec. 20-22: Raleigh
• Dec. 27-29: Charlotte
🎟️ 20% off tickets – Use the promo code and grab yours now (link in bio)!
#ClarasTrip #MeetTheCast #RachelNesnevich #Aerialist #HulaHoopArtist #CirqueAndDance #Cltarts #ncarts #cltevents #charlotteholidays #nccircus #ccaloucheandco
We’re excited to Kaila Rhyne perform the role of Ballerina in Clara’s Trip: A Cirque & Dance Nutcracker Story! Kaila first performed this role in 2016, marking her debut with Caroline Calouche & Co. She’s also wowed audiences as Bracelet and Mrs. Candy Cane in past performances.
🗓 Dates:
Dec. 20-22: Raleigh
Dec. 27-29: Charlotte
🎟️ 20% off tickets – Use promo code and get yours today (link in bio)!
Come experience the magic of the season with this beautiful blend of dance and circus!
#ClarasTrip #CirqueAndDance #Nutcracker #HolidayShow #KailaRhyne #CharlotteArts #RaleighEvents #holidaymagic #cltevents #cltnc #ccaloucheandco #clarastrip
Exciting News!
We are thrilled to announce that Sarah Harrison is returning to the stage as Clara in this year’s Clara’s Trip!✨ Sarah first brought Clara to life in 2022 and we can’t wait to see her shine again.
With a BFA in Dance Performance from Towson University and a passion for aerial dance sparked by Jayne Bernasconi’s low-flying trapeze class, Sarah has had an incredible journey in both dance and circus. Since 2016, she has been an integral part of our company as a performer and teacher. Sarah has worked with amazing companies like DEVIATED THEATER, Baltimore Aerial Dance, and most recently toured with The Mysterious Circus.
Get ready for a magical performance as Sarah brings her energy, grace, and passion back to Clara’s Trip! 💫🎄
Show dates in Raleigh and Charlotte.
Link in bio for details.
#ClarasTrip #SarahHarrison #CCDC #DanceAndCircus #AerialDance #HolidayMagic #ClaraReturns #circus #dance #clarastrip #cltevents
Backstage to Onstage
Youth from our school, @cltcirquedancenter, are already learning the professional choreography on their own while waiting to go on for our silly, minion-like Nightmare scene in Clara’s Trip. #socute
Caroline is in her finale stages of selecting the performers for this season. Stay tuned for the announcement in early September.
#clarastrip #nutcracker #ccaloucheandco #dance
Maybe some thoughts of snow will keep us cool?
Clara’s Trip will be performed in 2 cities this year!
December 20-22 Raleigh
December 27-30 Charlotte
Tickets will be on sale soon.
Performer job application closes July 19.
Stay cool!
#ccaloucheandco #cltarts #raleigharts #ncarts #ncdance #cltdance #clarastrip
Rouge is more than a cabaret. We push so many boundaries in our artistry. For example, Taylor’s solo this year was about taking control of your life but do you really have control or is it fate? Taylor’s physicality and incredible performance skills brought this idea to life and touched so many audience members.
@taylorrailton you’re a gem! Thank you!
Season artist applications due July 19.
We are also looking for a General Manager.
#share #dance #ccaloucheco #danceaudition #cltdance #cltiscreative
Twice we have received significant funding from the @knightfdn in 2018 for ‘Perspective’ and 2017 for this work ‘Crossroads’. There was an incredible grant officer there who loved dance and supported these projects that were free to the public. Sadly she is no longer there. And we haven’t been able to make art like this since due to lack of funding sources.
Charlotte’s city and county just approved $21 million towards the arts for the coming budget. This is a huge step and we hope with all our heart that we can create some more works like this that are multi-disciplinary and multi-generational and free to the public.
Thank you @knightfdn for your past support and hope we can partner again.
Thank you to all the artists who made this show so memorable for so many.
#dance #circus #clt #cltevents #cltcitycouncil #dreams
Applications due today!
Our school has 2 great Summer Programs with incredible faculty called Level Up and Creation Lab.
We are looking for Intermediate – Advance circus students and emerging artists who want to improve their technical and performance skills.
@cltcirquedancenter
#silkseverydamnday #aerialsilks #circus #dance #aerialdance #cltarts #cltnc #ncarts
