A New Partnership Premieres at Hip Hop Nutcracker
Strathmore welcomes Community Bridges to Music Center with a unique experience
A growing connection with Community Bridges opened a special opportunity last month for members of the nonprofit’s Girls Program to engage in a post-show Q&A with three talented cast members of the Hip Hop Nutcracker. This experience had a profound impact, particularly for one aspiring actress who received personalized advice from the performers. They encouraged her to take on every audition opportunity, emphasizing the importance of putting herself out there and seizing every chance to shine.
Coordinating the meet-and-greet with violinist Marissa Licata and dancers Michael Delgado and Trent Jeray, as well as providing 30 complimentary tickets to the sold-out holiday performance, marked the beginning of Bloom by Strathmore’s partnership with Community Bridges. As this collaboration continues, girls in 4th-12th grade who are interested in the arts will have access to volunteer opportunities at shows, master classes, career exploration seminars, and artist mentorship.
Throughout the season, Strathmore's Bloom initiative ensures there are performances accessible to the whole community by offering free and discounted tickets to schools and community resource centers. For the Hip Hop Nutcracker, 132 community access tickets were distributed, bringing joy to partners like Community Building Art Works, Joann Leleck Elementary School, Gaithersburg Middle School, Good Hope Recreation Center, and of course, Community Bridges.
Photos by Jim Saah