City Ballet of Cleveland “Sugarplum Fairy Tea”

Young and old were delighted by an afternoon of fairies, princesses and ballerinas for the seventh annual Sugarplum Fairy Tea benefitting the City Ballet of Cleveland.
Presented at the Cleveland Skating Club in Shaker Heights, the afternoon began with tea service, complete with delectable desserts, hot cocoa with festive toppings and more. Top pastry chefs contributed lovely confections while young children lined the dance floor as the Sugarplum Fairy and Shepherdesses and the Russian Tea Biscuits performed.

A trio of violinists provided a backdrop of music, with the Tea also featuring craft tables, a raffle and address by ballet representatives, including director Courtney Laves-Mearini.
New this year was a boutique calendar that was offered for 2020, marking the 10th year anniversary of the ballet’s nonprofit status.

Attendees numbered about 160 and included generations of women, including grandmothers and granddaughters, as well as some fathers and grandfathers. Youngsters also enjoyed photo opportunities with the Sugarplum Fairy and other “Nutcracker” favorites.

Each table was adorned with tea cups and flowers. The Sugarplum Fairy Tea was chaired by Jamie Dreger and funds raised that afternoon supported the Uniquely Cleveland Nutcracker’s Outreach Program. The City Ballet presented the Uniquely Cleveland Nutcracker just in time for the holidays in mid-December at the Breen Center for the Performing
Arts.

A non-profit dance company, City Ballet of Cleveland is dedicated to returning classic ballet to Northeast Ohio. Through the years, the company has enjoyed being the recipient of a grant from Cuyahoga Arts and Culture and from the Ohio Arts Council. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY SUE REID