Destination: Holidays at the Lincoln Center

by Rebecca LaPole

With Hanukkah practically upon us and Christmas only a few short weeks away, many residents are planning things to do with their visiting relatives or getting together with friends and family for holiday traditions. The Lincoln Center in Fort Collins is your destination for a multitude of holiday happenings that are sure to inspire and excite!

The month of December is packed with dance, theater and music from many different presenters, all in one place: the beautifully remodeled Lincoln Center. If you’re looking for the traditional mainstay of Christmas, The Nutcracker, you’ll be delighted by the plethora of options this season to see it in a different light, or catch it in its original beauty.

Mountain Dance will present their version, Nutcracker with a Twist, December 4-6. This family-friendly performance combines all styles of dance while following Clara as she travels to the land of her imagination and experiences the magic of dancing flowers, extraordinary candy and more.

Canyon Concert Ballet presents, The Nutcracker, (traditional version), December 11-13 which features the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra performing the dazzling score by Tchaikovsky live. This iconic holiday story is full of  mystery, battles, and beautiful ballerinas in sparkling tutus. On December 12. The Nutcracker Tea, also presented by Canyon Concert Ballet, will be a magical “high tea” experience that includes many scrumptious treats provided by Fiona’s Delicatessen, visits from Clara, the Prince, and other characters, photo opportunities and the creation of your own snowman ornament.

Contemporary Dance Academy creates the latest rendition of the show on December 18 and 19: Clara and The Nutcracker, which will feature professional guest artists and their own talented students in this full-scale production.

If The Nutcracker is not your thing, never fear! Many other options are here. On December 8 and 9, Dance Express will present A Winter’s Solstice, where their dancers blend with regional school children and community members in a performance of persons with and without disabilities. Rocky Mountain High School joins in on the fun with Holiday Stocking on December 14. This 90-minute, non-stop holiday music performance is sure to put the entire family into the holiday spirit.

Another traditional story for the holidays, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, will be presented by la-de-da Performing Arts in a musical rendition December 18-20. A Musical Christmas Carol is true to Dickens’ classic tale of Scrooge’s redemption, and provides an uplifting, joyous 90 minutes of entertainment for the whole family.

The Lincoln Center and SpokesBUZZ have been teaming up since August to present The Local Link series, an early evening live music concert series featuring Colorado bands in a top-notch setting. On Thursday, December 17, The Shaley Scott Band will continue this series with a pop-rock-infused holiday show that is going to be spectacular. Shaley Scott is a regional up-and-coming pop artist with an incredibly soulful voice reminiscent of the past and also like nothing you’ve heard before. Fresh off a new record deal with Sugarfox Rrecords, this is a Fort Collins born and raised artist unlike any other in our area. Don’t miss this chance to catch her in the beautiful Lincoln Center space with her stellar band.

For more information visit: LCTIX.com