Dena abergel biography of christopher

New York City Ballet’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® features 61 young dancers in every performance. The children onstage are all students in the Children’s Division at the School of American Ballet and were prepared for their roles by Children’s Repertory Director Dena Abergel and Associate Children’s Repertory Director Arch Higgins.

Since early October, the 122 children aged 8 to 13 who comprise the production’s alternating casts have been rehearsing under the watchful eyes of Abergel and Higgins, who work year-round to prepare SAB students for performances with New York City Ballet. 

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s great for the kids because they have so many more opportunities to perform, which was Balanchine’s idea,” says Higgins.

Abergel and Higgins, who assumed their positions in 2012 and 2013 respectively, are the latest in a short line of children’s repertory directors charged with rehearsing young SAB students for NYCB ballets with role