'Dance' runner-up Haskell returns to WNY stage, brings winner Johnson
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

"So You Think You Can Dance" winner Sabra Johnson and runner-up, Clarence Center native Neil Haskell, will perform together in the American Academy of Ballet's production of "The Nutcracker." Haskell is a former student of the Williamsville studio and also of David DeMarie Studio in Clarence.

After coming in second place on the popular FOX show, "So You Think You Can Dance," Clarence Center native Neil Haskell will make his hometown return in the American Academy of Ballet's production of "The Nutcracker."

But he won't be the only SYTYCD alumnus on the stage.

Haskell brings with him the show's winner, Sabra Johnson. The two will dance the "Pasa Doble" and one other piece for three performances: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2.

"Neil was in my 'Nutcracker' a couple of years ago as the prince," said Maris Battaglia, owner of American Academy of Ballet in Williamsville.

After the show was over, Battaglia went to see Haskell perform in the road tour for the show, where she was invited to a meet-and-greet with the cast. There she was introduced to Johnson.

"I said to Sabra, 'I want you to be in my 'Nutcracker,'' and she said, 'I'd love to. I've never even seen a Nutcracker,'" Battaglia said. "So I said, 'Here's what I'm offering and here are the dates.'"

Securing Haskell for the performances was a little more difficult.

"Neil actually has a callback for a movie that he knew was in early December, but he didn't know the dates," Battaglia said. "But he called me at 9:30 on a Friday night during a show and told me he could do it."

With Haskell and Johnson on board, Battaglia scrambled to make sure all of the other dancers and special-effects technicians could stay in the area for an extra performance.

Johnson and Haskell wrap up their SYTYCD tour in Reno, Nev., on Nov. 30 and fly to Buffalo for their performance on Dec. 1. No refunds will be given if inclement weather interferes with Johnson and Haskell's Saturday evening performance.

"It's always so exciting," Battaglia said of the return of her former student. "I'm so proud of Neil, and he remains the same wonderful, grounded young man."

Haskell, who started dancing at the David De- Marie Studio in Clarence at age 5, came to the American Academy of Ballet as a young teenager. According to Battaglia, Haskell never wanted to be strictly a ballet dancer but, like all dancers, he knew that to be a good dancer he had to have good ballet training. He spent three summers at the Chautauqua Institution's Summer Ballet intensive and was offered a place in a company in North Carolina, which he turned down.

"This is a well-known ballet school, and I think he realized how much ballet could help him," Battaglia said.

With his 'Nutcracker' performance, Haskell isn't just making his triumphant return to the Western New York stage, according to Battaglia.

"This is really his way of coming home and saying thank you to all of those people who pressed redial during the show," she said. "This area really supported him."

Also starring in "The Nutcracker" will be Daniel Ulbricht, principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, as the cavalier, and Jeanette Delgado, of the Miami City Ballet, dancing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Royal Ballet principal dancers Joseph Cipolla and Catherine Batcheller round out the cast.

Ulbricht is also a former student of Battaglia's and has been in previous productions of "The Nutcracker." He also returns periodically to lead classes at the studio.

"My students adore Daniel," Battaglia said. "But they are crazy in love with Neil."

"The Nutcracker" will be performed at the University at Buffalo's Center for the Arts at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m Saturday, Dec. 1 and at 1 p.m and 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2. Haskell and Johnson will not perform at the 1 p.m. Saturday show.

Tickets are $25 and $20. A $1 Center for the Arts facility fee will be added to the price of the ticket. To charge tickets, call 852-5000. For more information, call 645-2787 or visit the Center For the Arts box office from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Tickets are also available at all Ticketmaster locations and on ticketmaster.com.