Whether you come to the Adirondacks to ski Whiteface Mountain, skate at the Olympic Oval, or for a sampling of the Adirondack arts, you can always find an element of magic in your visit.

Today, I am struck by the magic that is being spun at The Lake Placid Center for the Arts (LPCA). The lobby is already abuzz when I arrive, and it is still a good half hour before curtain for the North Country Ballet Ensemble's (NCBE) performance of "The Nutcracker."

The LPCA gallery is filled with "The Big Little Show," the art exhibit that opened yesterday and runs through December 28. According to the postcard promotion it is, "an exhibition and sale of small works by fifty regional artists."  It is an amazing array that encompasses everything from tiny furniture made from natural found objects to an enchanted fairy house, and incredible miniature watercolor paintings. Some of the artists' works I am drawn to include: Margo Fish's "Hope"paintings, Donna Woodward's Durango, Anna Gerhard Arnold's intricate watercolors, and Joe Capozio's mixed media "Arabesque."

The crowd in the lobby and ticket line keeps growing as more and more folks stream in to pick up their tickets for the performance. In the lower lobby folks are admiring the nutcrackers of varying sizes on display and up for raffle. There are families, friends, and folks who just love to see this ballet performed every year.

It has been quite some time since I have seen a NCBE performance and I have heard great things about this particular production. The North Country Ballet Ensemble has been performing "The Nutcracker" in Plattsburgh annually at Thanksgiving time for almost three decades. Several years ago, the company added the LPCA as a venue following the Thanksgiving weekend. There are always principal dancers from NYC and the rest of the cast are students of the NCBE along with parents and local actors or dancers who fill out the party scene. This year, Alice Schonbek is the Artistic Director with choreography coming from Michela Boschetto, Rebecca Kelly, Terpsie Toon, Amelia Schonbek, and Natalia Balina-Zborowska.

As the ballet begins, I feel the energy and enthusiasm of the cast through the opening sequence as family and friends get ready for the party. The costumes are always sensational as are the drops and this year everything seems more magical than ever.

There is a fresh feel to the piece from the very beginning and a playfulness about the company that is infectious. Uncle Drosselmeyer (played by Jason Borrie) brings just the right amount of magic and animation to the production leading the audience and Claire through the enchanted world of Rat Kings, Ice Maidens, and Sugar Plums. There is even a Dragon that makes its way through the audience, complete with a wagging tail. It is all wonderfully executed and beautifully staged.

The NCBE promises exciting spring dance projects including partnerships with Rebecca Kelly, Terpsie Toon, and composer Adrian Carr. 

And check out the LPCA web site at www.LakePlacidArts.org to see what other magic is ahead this winter in Lake Placid.

Kathleen Recchia has been enjoying the arts in the Adirondacks for about 20 years—both as observer and participant (acting, directing, and producing). She also enjoys cross-country skiing, swimming, juggling, and hosting visitors to the area at her bed & breakfast in Jay.