by BARBARA MALINSKY

It’s the first Nutcracker of the season presented by Mt. Airy’s own Philadelphia Dance Theatre. Performances take place at the Hatboro-Horsham High School November 15 at 4 and 7:30 p.m. Although this is the fifth annual production for the local company, it’s their first under the aegis of the Hatboro-Horsham Education Foundation which sponsors cultural events in Montgomery County. The production provides an early spark to the holiday season.

Philadelphia Dance Theatre and Conservatory are new to the neighborhood. Artistic director Joy Delaney-Capponi relocated her school and company from Ambler only a year ago, but they are already in full swing on the campus at the New Covenant Church of Philadelphia at 7500 Germantown Ave. Capponi trained with Olin Kearse in Ambler, attended Virginia Intermont College as a dance major and performed as principal dancer with Highpoint Ballet and Butterworth Dance Company.

“I was trained in a strict classical tradition, but I had to explore other options after a knee injury,” she said. “After knee surgery, I concentrated on education.” Injury may have put an end to her performing career but not her dreams. When Kearse asked her to come back to Ambler to take over his school, she promptly said yes. That was in 1997, and she hasn’t looked back since.

The conservatory has a demanding classical ballet curriculum but there have been innovations during those six years including the introduction of modern dance, tap, jazz and hip hop. The most exciting change though has been the relocation to Mt. Airy. “I looked in Ambler for bigger and better quarters but couldn’t find anything. Then one of our parents mentioned the New Covenant campus, and I got the idea to look for space there. When I saw it I knew it had potential as a studio.

“No one could believe it because there were dead pigeons and leaves on the floor and chipped paint on the walls. The room was full of drafting tables and low hung lighting, but the space had hardwood floors with no poles, big beautiful windows and high ceilings. We did all the renovations ourselves last summer. Moms painted; dads installed the barres. It feels like a school now in the middle of two beautiful communities, Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill.”

Following the move, as in all journeys, something unexpected happened. “I fell in love with Mt. Airy. I’m so delighted to be in Mt. Airy that I moved my family here.” That family includes husband Dominic and two children, five-year-old Analiese and nine-month-old Damian. “Everybody who lives here in Mt. Airy loves it. People embrace what they have because it’s so special and they realize that. It’s more diverse, and that makes me happier.”

She is optimistic that the community’s sense of open mindedness may bring more boys to the school. “I had a 16-year-old boy in class who went on to win a scholarship to the Rock School of the University of the Arts.”

Her goal now is to include her new community in the life of the school and the theater. ‘I did my first Nutcracker in 1999, and people thought I was just going to do a recital, but I wanted to do it all;the growing tree, snowflakes, backdrops and costumes. My mother and I sewed away and an art school friend painted the sets. After the first production, it was easier to garner support. The present Nutcracker production boasts 60 company members and is a family as well as a community affair.

Husband Dominic will portray Dr. Stahlbaum. Untrained in dance, he was apprehensive at first but now looks forward to the annual event. “It’s fun to push yourself to do new things.

Dr. Stahlbaum is my signature role! I get to be a doctor for a day,” he said. The local Dow family is well represented in this year’s production. Vivian Dow of Germantown, grandmother to cousins Carmella and Lauren Dow, will play the grandmother. Carmella Dow of Mt. Airy enjoys the roles of Elf and Baker while Ambler resident Lauren, dances Hot Chocolate, Flower and Snowflake. “Everyone gets a greater appreciation giving to each other and the community. I want to provide these performances for the community, for people who can’t get to center city or can’t afford it. I would love to bring this production to Chestnut Hill and Mt. Airy; they’re so supportive of the arts, but I need a state-of-the-art theater that seats 900.” So far, she hasn’t found that yet in the immediate area, but discussions are underway with local schools to make it a reality.

In the meantime, area residents will need to go to Horsham to see this early, affordable production. Tickets are only $12 for adults and $6 for children. For ticket information, call 215-672-1023. For information about the school programs and scholarships, call 215-247-4272.