Houston Repertoire Ballet (HRB), Houston’s premier pre-professional ballet company, celebrates its 24th season, beginning with its 21st annual performance series of The Nutcracker, featuring professional guest artist Jared Matthews as the Cavalier, and Joseph Modlin as Herr Drosselmeyer, with the Cypress Philharmonic directed by Glynnes Lanthier. The Nutcracker’s brilliant blend of beautiful costumes, lavish sets, and fresh choreography creates a magical storybook world enjoyed by children and adults alike. With a cast of more than 100 HRB dancers and area children, and musical performance by the Cypress Philharmonic, HRB’s masterful production is the highlight of the holidays! HRB has received a generous grant from Texas Commission on the Arts, enabling HRB to expand its outreach mission to children currently attending two Title-1 schools. Students from each campus will participate, free of charge (including class attire, costumes, and other supplies), in one-hour ballet classes on Saturdays, and will receive dance instruction in the “Nutcracker Experience.” These children will have the opportunity to participate as dancers in three HRB Nutcracker Arts & Education school performances, for an audience of their peers comprising more than 1,500 Tomball ISD third graders. Major funding provided by the City of Tomball and Texas Commission on the Arts. Sponsored by Air Innovations LLC and Vintage Wellness. Photo Credit: Scott Nilsson Photographer