The Nutcracker presented by Ballet Ensemble of Texas

Ballet Ensemble of Texas’s (BET) 21st annual production of The Nutcracker will feature Emily Speed as the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Simon Wexler as her Cavalier.

Ms. Speed danced with Colorado Ballet from 2014-2020 and performed many soloist and principal roles. A native Texan living in New York City, she is now a professional freelance artist performing in multiple dance projects including Movement Headquarters, MorDance, Battery Dance Festival.

Simon Wexler was born in Kiev, Ukraine, immigrating to the United States in 1993 when he was nine months old. Upon graduation from the Kirov Academy of Ballet, Mr. Wexler joined Orlando Ballet. He later joined Texas Ballet Theater under the directorship of Ben Stevenson O.B.E., where he was the company’s First Soloist in 2013 and Principal in 2014.  From 2015-17 Mr. Wexler was a member of American Ballet Theatre and expanded his repertoire to include roles in Frederick Ashton’s Sylvia, and La Fille Mal Gardee, Kevin McKenzie’s production of Swan Lake, Anna-Marie Holmes’ production of Le Corsaire, Alexei Ratmansky’s The Golden Cockerel, and Balanchine’s Prodigal Son.

BET’s 2021 production of The Nutcracker will feature more than 200 children from Ballet Academy of Texas (BAT). BET is the official performing company of the BAT and trains dancers who are recognized by prestigious pre-professional training programs across the country, with more than half of BET’s 31 company members placed in such programs last year. Professional alumni also dance with companies around the country, including four former BET dancers who currently perform with American Ballet Theatre, America’s National Ballet Company.