The Utah Metropolitan Ballet is offering a free, autism-friendly performance of the Nutcracker
The Utah Metropolitan Ballet is hosting a one-day event for families with autistic children that will give them the opportunity to enjoy the Nutcracker Ballet in a comfortable setting in Provo on Monday. (Jay Hancock, KSL-TV)
Estimated reading time: 2-3 minutes
PROVO – Requests for tickets for a free, autism-friendly performance of the “Nutcracker” exceeded expectations.
The Utah Metropolitan Ballet hosted the one-day event for families with autistic children on Monday, which gave them the opportunity to enjoy the ballet in a comfortable setting.
“How wonderful it is for these families to be in a place where they don’t have to worry about their children’s behavior. They can just enjoy and let these children enjoy,” said Ellen Christenson, president of UMB’s board of directors Trustee.
Through the organization’s Autism Outreach program, they raised the $ 17,000 required to implement this production. Christenson said people in the ward donated to make everything possible.
The event was so popular that nearly 1,200 tickets were requested and about half could be met for the performance at the Covey Center in Provo.
“That just told us it was important and meaningful,” Christenson said. “We’re excited to do it. It’s all worth it.”
The Geddes family attended the event with their autistic son Jude.
“We don’t have many opportunities to attend an event like this,” said Carolyn Geddes. “We can’t go to the movies because Jude wants to get up and run up and down the aisles. And he actually enjoys the movie, he just can’t sit still. “
Geddes said she was grateful for the Utah Metropolitan Ballet’s efforts and hoped it would be expanded to other performances.
They really do turn to our autistic kids and say, ‘Hey, we see you, we accept you, and we have a place for you.’
–Carolyn Geddes
“They really turn to our autistic kids and say, ‘Hey, we see you, we accept you, and we have a place for you.’ It really means the world to us, “she said.
The Utah Metropolitan Ballet puts on four to five productions each year. Because this event has been so successful, they hope to extend their autism-friendly night to all of their productions.
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