Summit Dance Project brings The Nutcracker to Park City elementary schools
On December 5, Summit Dance Project performed The Nutcracker for students at Trailside and Parley’s Park Elementary schools, earning warm applause and memorable reactions from the children. The visit reinforced local ties between schools and community arts programs, highlighting the value of in school performances for students and families in Summit County.
Summit Dance Project brought a condensed performance of The Nutcracker to Trailside and Parley’s Park Elementary schools on December 5, delivering a lively program that drew enthusiastic applause from young audiences. The mice scenes in particular prompted loud approval, creating moments of shared delight in classrooms that often have limited live arts exposure.
Allie Kenton, a Park City School District alum who now serves as office manager for Summit Dance Project, said the event carried personal meaning. “It's thrilling to see the students' reactions to our performances,” said Kenton. “We are grateful to all the Park City schools for hosting us.” Kenton has spent the past year and a half helping coordinate events alongside director Tonia Blomquist, working to bring the company into schools across the area.
The performance also showcased two rising local performers. Kylie and Livvy, sixth graders at Ecker Hill Middle School and alumni of Parley’s Park Elementary, appeared as Raggedy Ann and Andy. Kylie added a familial note to the day, as her mother Tricia Perkins, a third grade teacher at Parley’s Park, watched from the audience.
School officials noted that the in school performance highlights the program's longevity and its role connecting students with local arts programming. For families and teachers in Summit County, these visits provide accessible exposure to live dance, offering curricular and cultural enrichment without requiring travel to larger venues.
The event underscores the practical role that community arts organizations play in public education. By bringing performances directly to school gyms and auditoriums, Summit Dance Project lowers barriers to participation and strengthens the informal networks that keep local arts viable. Those networks matter for classroom engagement, parent involvement, and the broader cultural life of the county.
For students who watched on December 5, the show was more than a performance. It was a reminder that local institutions can create memorable early experiences with the arts, and that sustained partnerships between schools and community groups can expand opportunities for every child in Summit County.
