INSIDE THIS SECTION
REGIONAL EVENTS
Find lots of art by the younger artists in and around Denton on Pages 2-3, 6-8, 10-11, 13, 15-16
Find out what events are happening across North Texas. Page 5
Christmas in Denton County DentonRC.com
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INSIDE TODAY
Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013
Denton, Texas
Lighting festival Friday
Events are plentiful in Denton County. For details, see inside. Page 4
FUNDRAISER
FILE PHOTO
People wait in line for Wassail at last year’s celebration during the annual Denton Holiday Lighting Festival on the downtown Square. Fundraiser ongoing this week for Denton State Supported Living Center. For details, see inside. Page 9
CRECHE COLLECTION
Wassail Fest returns to downtown Square By Megan Gray Staff Writer mgray@dentonrc.com
T
he Denton Holiday Lighting Festival will light up the downtown Square on Friday evening for the 25th time. The lighting festival kicks off with a sing-along and the lighting of the community Christmas tree at 5:30 p.m., organizers said. Music, dancing, arts and crafts, food and a visit from Santa continue the festivities until 9 p.m.
The Wassail Fest, a separate event that runs concurrently, will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on the downtown Square, offering the hot cider served by downtown merchants. Micah Pazoureck, co-chairwoman of the Denton Holiday Festival Association, said the festival began in1988 with just a few hundred people in attendance. The festival now draws an estimated 13,000 to 15,000 people from all over Denton County, who gather at the historic courthouse to enjoy what
Pazoureck calls “the official start of the holiday season.” Pazoureck attributes the growth of the event to good weather and a “wise decision” to move the festival from a Thursday night to a Friday night in 2011. “Since it was no longer a school night — or even a work night for some — this allowed people to come out and stay longer,” she said. “They could then really enjoy themselves. It’s just a familyfriendly way to kick off the holiday sea-
son.” One of the things she said many festivalgoers still don’t realize is that the DHFA is a nonprofit organization governed by a volunteer board of directors. “We run solely off donations and sponsorships to put this festival on,” Pazoureck said. “Donations are always appreciated to keep it going. … This really is an event put on for the community by the community.” See FESTIVAL on Page 9
THE NUTCRACKER Two new principals highlight production, now in 26th year
Bethlehem in Denton County: A Sanger woman has been collecting manger scenes for more than 35 years. Page 12
Staff report
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HOW TO HELP
Local agencies need extra help this time of the year. A complete list is included inside. Page 17
David Minton/DRC
The Festival Ballet of North Texas peforms “The Nutcracker” in front of the tree at the 2012 Denton Holiday Lighting Festival. This year’s performances are slated for 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 14 and 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 15. Ticket prices range from $11 to $36 for the performances at the Margo Jones Performance Hall at the Texas Woman’s University campus.
nder the artistic direction of Eldar and Lilia Valieva, the annual production of the Festival Ballet of North Texas’ The Nutcracker will continue its tradition into a 26th holiday season. This year’s performances are slated for 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, and 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 15 at the Margo Jones Performance Hall on the Texas Woman’s University campus. Ticket prices range from $11 to $36 for the production which will feature two new principals — Alexandru Glusacov and Melissa Zoebisch. Born in Moldova, Glusacov trained at the Academy of Ballet of Republic of Moldova from 1992 to 1998. He earned a diploma from the International Ballet Competition in Constanta, Romania in 1997. Upon graduation, he joined the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Republic of Moldova where he became a soloist dancer. In 2003, Mr. Glusacov joined the Russian Classical Ballet. In 2004, Glusacov danced with the Russian State Ballet. With these companies, he toured extensively throughout Europe with soloists from the Bolshoi
Theatre. His repertoire includes soloist and principal roles in ballets like Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty and many others, as well as contemporary performances. Currently, Glusacov is a freelance dancer guesting throughout the country and teaches as well. Melissa Zoebisch grew up in Mexico and studied at the Chamber Ballet of Jalisco. She was awarded a scholarship to attend for a year at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Mme. Sizova’s class, and returned to Mexico to graduate in 2004. Throughout her school years, she participated in many workshops around the world in Cuba, Canada, Austria, Spain, and the United States. In 2005, Zoebisch joined the National Dance Company, where she obtained soloist roles in her first year in ballets including Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty and Carmen. Her other repertoire includes principal roles in Giselle, Pas de Deux from Le Corsaire, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, original contemporary See NUTCRACKER on Page 9