Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” features stars of the Miami City Ballet, Dec. 20–21
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2025
Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” features stars of the Miami City Ballet, Dec. 20–21
Welcoming home Taylor Naturkas for a special holiday performance
PETOSKEY, Mich. — The Nutcracker is a special holiday tradition for much of the Northern Michigan community. The Crooked Tree Arts Center (CTAC) School of Ballet returns to the Great Lakes Center for the Arts on December 20 and 21 for their 16th annual production of The Nutcracker. This year's production is especially exciting, as it will feature stars of the Miami City Ballet, Taylor Naturkas (principal soloist) and Alexander Peters (principal). Naturakas and Peters will perform the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier, respectively, closing out the second act of the ballet.
Naturkas grew up training with CTAC School of Ballet, beginning at the age of four. Her early training, under the direction of Artistic Director Heather Raue, led her to studying with the Miami City Ballet School at the age of 15. After receiving her Corps de Ballet contract in 2020, Naturkas quickly moved up the ranks of the company, and was promoted to principal soloist in February of 2024 at the young age of 21. She has performed many significant principal roles with the company, including the Dewdrop and Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, the Firebird in Firebird, and Odette/Odile in Swan Lake.
“I’m thrilled to be invited back home where I first discovered my love for ballet,” Naturkas said. “It is so special for me to share the stage with the up-and-coming CTAC School of Ballet dancers and share what I love with my Northern Michigan community, friends, and family.”
Peters is a seasoned professional dancer hailing from State College, Pennsylvania. He studied with the School of American Ballet and has danced professionally with the Kansas City Ballet and Pennsylvania Ballet. He joined Miami City Ballet in 2017 as a Principal Soloist and was promoted to Principal in January 2019.
Artistic Director Heather Raue, states that she has been working to bring Naturkas back home to dance in the CTAC School of Ballet’s Nutcracker for many years. “Taylor first danced Sugar Plum Fairy with us when she was just 13 years old. What a full-circle moment to have her home to dance Sugar with us again, all these years later. This is the perfect year for it and we are thrilled to welcome Alex to Northern Michigan, too!”
Performances will take place on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 21, at 3 p.m at the Great Lakes Center for the Arts. Tickets are priced at $50 for adults, $15 for students, and $100 for box seats. A $150 “Friends of the School of Ballet” ticket option is also available to support the program further. All tickets are reserved seating only; no general admission seats are available. Tickets are available through the Great Lakes Center for the Arts by calling 231-439-2100 or visiting www.greatlakescfa.org.
This production of The Nutcracker is made possible by Patricia M. Kaine. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit the CTAC Dance Scholarship Fund.
For more information about The Nutcracker or the CTAC School of Ballet, contact the Crooked Tree Arts Center at 231-347-4337 or visit www.crookedtree.org/ballet.