Colleen Smith, Artistic Director of Ballet Palm Beach announced several upcoming dance events for children and teens presented by the highly acclaimed professional ballet company. “Ongoing engagement with the younger generation is one of the critical missions of Ballet Palm Beach,” says Smith. “Along with the performance and training opportunities that we offer young aspiring dancers through our academy, we will also be presenting a series of special events geared specifically to children and teenagers.”

October 27 at 6 pm (Saturday) Boo Bash: Father Daughter Dance will be held just days before Halloween, this annual party for dads and daughters will include a costume contest, raffles, dinner, and dancing. Proceeds from this event fund production costs for the company and academy scholarships.

The cost to attend is $95 per couple, and $40 for each additional daughter.

PGA National Resort & Spa 450 Avenue of the Champions in Palm Beach Gardens November 8-10 Ballet by the Book In an effort to promote literacy and the performing arts, Ballet Palm Beach partners with the Palm Beach County Library System’s Families Reading Together program to create an original short ballet based on a children’s book. This year it’s Lola Plants a Garden. The free 30-minute performance includes a short Q&A session between attending children and the dancers. Since its inception, Ballet by the Book has served more than 8,000 children, the majority of which were seeing their first live ballet. At Palm Beach County Library System Branches + Thursday at 4 pm in Jupiter (705 Military Trail – 33458) + Thursday at 6:30 pm in Loxahatchee (15801 Orange Blvd. – 33470) + Friday at 4 pm in Palm Beach Gardens (11303 Campus Drive – 33410) + Saturday at 10:30 am in Lake Worth (4020 Lantana Road – 33462) + Saturday at 1:30 pm in West Boynton Beach (9451 Jog Road – 33437) (Note: For more information about Palm Beach County Library events, please call 561.233.2600 or visit www.pbclibrary.org.)

The Nutcracker Ballet Palm Beach leaps into the season with holiday classic, The Nutcracker, the coming-of-age story of Marie who receives a mysterious gift on Christmas Eve. Adventures ensue as Tchaikovsky’s score draws Marie into a terrifying battle with the Mouse King, past a mystical snowstorm, and to the prince’s Enchanted Kingdom. November 30-December 1 + Friday at 7:30 pm + Saturday at 2 pm & 7:30 pm Kravis Center for the Performing Arts – Dreyfoos Hall 701 Okeechobee Boulevard in West Palm Beach December 13-16 + Thursday at 7 pm + Friday at 7 pm + Saturday at 1 pm & 7 pm + Sunday at 4 pm The King’s Academy Page Family Center for Performing Arts 8401 Belvedere Road in West Palm Beach

How to Purchase Tickets: For information about prices and how to purchase tickets, please call Ballet Palm Beach at 561.630.8235 or visit www.balletpalmbeach.org. For tickets to performances at the Kravis Center, please call 561.832.7469 or 800.572.8471, or visit www.kravis.org. For tickets to performances at The King’s Academy, please call 888.718.4253 or visit www.TKAFineArts.net. About Ballet Palm Beach: Ballet Palm Beach (BPB), the professional ballet company of the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) ballet company dedicated to preserving the art of classical ballet by cultivating new visions in choreography, impacting the next generation through the discipline of dance, and enriching the community through this universal art form.

Established in 2001, the company has become a fixture in Palm Beach County. Each year BPB produces main stage ballets as well as outreach shows, both locally and abroad. For more information about the professional company or its school, Ballet Palm Beach Academy, or to support BPB’s outreach efforts call 561.630.8235 or visit www.balletpalmbeach.org.