Campers, family/caregivers attend Charlotte Ballet's Sensory Friendly "Nutcracker"

Charlotte Ballet, through a sponsorship from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, generously donated 75 tickets to a sensory friendly performance of the holiday classic Nutcracker on Dec. 13 to the Camp Blue Skies community in Charlotte.

The sensory friendly production at Blumenthal Performing Arts’ Belk Theater featured an abbreviated performance length and extended intermission. House lights remained at half brightness, and the sound was controlled through recorded music. Charlotte Ballet dancers, staff, ushers and volunteers also received training to ensure an excellent experience for those with sensory challenges.

Camp Director Jim Guimond coordinated the opportunity with Charlotte Ballet. Among those who enjoyed the production were adults with developmental disabilities from Camp Blue Skies partners such as The Exceptional Foundation of Charlotte, A Small Miracle, and InReach. It also was wonderful to visit with representatives from the Allegro Foundation…a Champion for Children with Disabilities and Autism Speaks. Both nonprofits partnered with Charlotte Ballet for this special event.

“We hope this is the beginning of a partnership with Charlotte Ballet,” said Guimond. “Providing experiences and activities outside of Camp Blue Skies is a goal for us. This was the perfect example of what we hope to do more of in the future.”

Charlotte Ballet will offer a sensory friendly performance of Peter Pan at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 13. Stay tuned for more info!

Got an idea for an activity or event we should check out? Email Jim.