Briana Jaskevicius of Hinsdale began taking ballet lessons at Salt Creek Ballet only three years ago. But the talented 16-year-old Hinsdale Central High School junior has so much talent that she was cast in the lead role of Princess Clara in this year’s production of Salt Creek Ballet’s “The Nutcracker.”

The show, Salt Creek Ballet’s 39th annual production of “The Nutcracker,” will be performed at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Nov. 29 and 1 p.m. Nov. 30 at Hinsdale Central Auditorium, 5500 S. Grant St.

Prior to coming to Salt Creek Ballet three years ago, Jaskevicius studied ballroom dancing for three years at another studio.

“At my old studio they had ballet and I saw them doing it,” she said. “I thought it was so beautiful. I was looking for studios around where I live and I saw Salt Creek and heard a lot of good things about it, so I decided to go there.”

This will be Jaskevicius’ third year dancing “The Nutcracker” with Salt Creek Ballet. She played a variety of roles in the past two productions, including Party Girl, Arabian and Mirliton, among other roles.

Being chosen as Princess Clara this year “was a really amazing opportunity for me because it’s a way to show off my hard work to everybody, and it’s such a beautiful part.”

Briana Jaskevicius of Hinsdale dances the lead role of Princess Clara in Salt Creek Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker,” Nov. 29-30 at the Hinsdale Central Auditorium. (Morna Photography)

Jaskevicius described Princess Clara as “very curious and she has really big dreams and a really big imagination.”

The most difficult aspect of the role for the teen is partnering, she indicated, because it’s a new skill for her.

Jaskevicius praised the connection that the dancers in the company have made. “It’s like my second family, my second home,” she declared. “We all work so hard to make this production beautiful.”

The company’s two artistic directors, Erica De La O and Kristopher Wojtera offered high praise for the young dancer’s talent and commitment.

Wojtera said they asked Jaskevicius to play Princess Clara because “she’s very talented and capable of handling this challenging role and she looks beautiful in it. She wants to do the best that she can.”

“She’s a hard worker, dedicated and focused, and talented,” De La O added. “She’s very intelligent.”

Around 80 dancers will perform in “The Nutcracker” this year, including Salt Creek Ballet dancers, ages 6 to 17, young dancers from the Joffrey, and adult guest artists.

There are a couple of changes in the production this year compared to previous years.

“We have new Chinese costumes in our production this year,” Wojtera said. There’s also “a new addition to the fight scene with the small mice,” he said.

“We’re trying to add a little bit of humor in the battle scene with the soldiers,” De La O explained.

In terms of the entire production, “We’re making sure that it’s looking sharp,” De La O said.

Salt Creek Ballet’s productions of “The Nutcracker” always draw a crowd. De La O believes it is the quality of their productions and the attention to details.

The goal, she noted, is to assure that “a child can walk into that space and be inspired and be mesmerized.”

Tickets for the Nov. 29th performances are $48 for adults and $45 for children ages 12 and under and seniors 65 and older. Tickets for the Dec. 1 performance, which includes a Sugar Plum Party, are $58 for adults, $55 for children and seniors. At the party, audience members can meet the dancers and enjoy cookies and hot chocolate.

There will also be performances of the Salt Creek Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” on Dec 5-6 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, and Dec. 19-21 at the McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn.

For reservations and additional information, call 630-769-1199 or visit saltcreekballet.org.

Myrna Petlicki is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/salt-creek-ballet-nutcracker/