Photo by Joanne Salyer.
Classic works, contemporary explorations, and the return of Annapolis’s own Nutcracker
ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 15th, 2026) – Ballet Theatre of Maryland, the state’s premier professional ballet company, has announced their 48th season at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts. It opens with the company premiere of La Sylphide in October, BTM’s Annapolis-themed production of The Nutcracker in December, world-premiering works in February’s Momentum: A Mixed Bill, and an all-new production of Coppélia in April.
Says Artistic Director Nicole Kelsch, “Finding the right balance of new works and treasured traditions is always important when we curate a season. Although La Sylphide is one of the oldest surviving ballets, this will be BTM’s first time presenting it. We premiered our Nutcracker last December with tremendous support from the community, and we’re thrilled to continue enhancing it with updated costumes. There’s always something fresh and new to see with Momentum, and then we close the season with a new production of Coppélia. The company has grown so much since we last performed it in 2022, and I look forward to seeing our dancers bring their artistry and comedic acting to this new production.”
October’s La Sylphide is an ethereal Romantic ballet following a young Scotsman named James on the morning of his wedding. A sylph appears beside his chair and kisses him, completely enchanting him. Though he is torn between his bride-to-be and the sylph’s supernatural charms, James follows the sylph into the forest. Featuring lighter-than-air sylphs, wicked witches, and lively Scottish Highland dances, La Sylphide may become audience members’ new favorite ballet.
In December, BTM presents The Nutcracker. Combining Clara and the Nutcracker’s festive story with local landmarks, this updated production celebrates the rich history and culture of Annapolis. Audiences won’t want to miss the dazzling dancing, gorgeous costumes, and heart-warming story of this holiday treat.
The season continues in the new year with Momentum: A Mixed Bill in February. This sampler of classical and contemporary movement features world premieres by guest choreographers and members of BTM. Lastly, BTM performs Coppélia in April. This story of love, mistaken identity, and clockwork dolls follows Swanhilda, whose boyfriend has fallen for a mysterious girl in the toymaker’s window. With playful characters and charming storytelling, this whimsical ballet will have audiences smiling and laughing along.
Tickets for all productions will be available both in-person and streaming. To enjoy more than one production, becoming a subscriber is the most cost-effective way to support BTM. To learn more, visit BalletMaryland.org. BTM cautions that BalletMaryland.org and Eventbrite.com are the only official websites for purchasing tickets. Ballet Theatre of Maryland is not responsible for tickets purchased through unauthorized third parties.
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Ballet Theatre of Maryland, founded in 1978, is designated as Maryland’s premier professional ballet company and conservatory. The company, comprised of 43 professional dancers and 14 trainees, produces high-caliber ballet performances that engage the mind and spirit and express Maryland’s unique voice through movement. BTM seeks to make ballet accessible to all audiences while attaining ever-higher levels of artistic excellence. BTM’s Conservatory of Dance offers a full curriculum of classes taught by qualified teachers who are current or former professional dancers. The Conservatory has provided methodical, compassionate dance training to students in the Annapolis area for over 40 years. For more information about BTM, please visit www.balletmaryland.org or call (410) 224-5644.
Nicole Kelsch received her early training from Peter and Kristin Degnan at Ballet Northeast in Pennsylvania. She also received training from Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet Austin, Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts, and Princeton Ballet. Nicole graduated from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Ballet Performance in three years. Upon graduation, she danced professionally with Columbia City Ballet, Atlanta Festival Ballet, and Connecticut Ballet.
In 2006, Nicole joined The Ballet Theatre of Maryland as an apprentice under the direction of Dianna Cuatto. She was promoted to Principal Dancer in 2008 and throughout her career was featured as Clara and The Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, the Firebird in The Firebird, Swanhilda in Coppélia, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, as a Principal in Antony Tudor’s Continuo, the Principal Couple in Italian Symphonette, Titania and Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Magdalena in An American Southwest Carmen, Cinderella in Cinderella, Guinevere in Excalibur, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, Pearl in The Little Mermaid, and has performed the Don Quixote Pas de Deux.
In 2008, after having served on the faculty for two years, Nicole became the School Principal for The Ballet Theatre of Maryland Conservatory. She was named the Ballet Mistress for the company in 2015. Nicole retired from performing in March 2020 and became the Artistic Director in July 2020. She successfully led the company through a full 2020-2021 performing season at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, staging performances of Edward Stewart’s Dracula, Dianna Cuatto’s The Nutcracker, An American Southwest Carmen, and The Little Mermaid.
