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POSTCARDS: Jayda Hazelett of Ballet Hartford on the Company's “A Ceremony of Carols” Winter Tour
Starting December 9th at Symphony Space, New York City
A Ceremony of Carols Winter Tour
New York City, NY: Monday, December 9 @ 7:30 PM at Symphony Space
Philadelphia, PA: Wednesday, December 11 @ 7:30 PM at Performance Garage
Winston-Salem, NC: Sunday, December 15 at 3 PM at Reynolds Auditorium
This new Christmas tradition features original ballets by Claire Kretzschmar, Ballet Hartford's Artistic Director and former New York City Ballet Soloist. The program begins with Weihnachtsbaum (World Premiere) with music by Franz Liszt and culminates in A Ceremony of Carols featuring 12 glorious songs by Benjamin Britten. Co-produced by Grammy Award-winning singer Katy Avery, this double feature is elevated by live piano, harp and choral music. Tickets are between $25-65 and can be bought here.
I joined Ballet Hartford this season, and artistic director Claire Kretzschmar, a former New York City Ballet soloist, along with the company artists and team, welcomed me so kindly. From day one, it was clear that Ballet Hartford is a special community under her leadership.
We dove into choreography right away, and I’m thrilled with the many opportunities I have to dance. Some pieces, like Weihnachtsbaum, choreographed by Claire, are new, and it’s been exciting to be part of the creative process, with choreography tailored specifically to the dancers. Recently, she asked us to do some improvisation to inspire a new section of the work, which highlighted the collaborative nature of the company.
Other pieces, like A Ceremony of Carols, have been performed by the company in the past. Though many dancers are already familiar with the ballet, Claire always teaches the choreography with clarity, ensuring everyone feels comfortable with the material.
I’ve really enjoyed this process because I never feel unsure or nervous about newly learned sections. The atmosphere in the studio is both supportive and focused on teamwork.
Since joining Ballet Hartford, my understanding of technique and artistry has grown, giving me more confidence as a dancer. As we prepare for the A Ceremony of Carols tour, I’ve come to appreciate how different this ballet is from what I’ve previously performed. Set to a beautiful choral composition, the choreography, though physically demanding, feels perfectly in tune with the music and its emotional tone.
The richness of the carols, both musically and lyrically, challenges us as dancers to match that depth through movement. Personally, it’s very meaningful to perform in a ballet that tells the story of Christmas — the birth of Christ. As a dancer and Christ follower, my movement becomes an expression of worship, and I treasure the moments when my dancing aligns with my faith.
I’m especially excited about performing with live vocalists. I imagine it will create an ethereal experience, one that both the performers and the audience will savor this holiday season.
