MEET THE DANCERS
CARYS/SNOWFLAKE - Ffion Elmer
Ffion Elmer has recently graduated from Tring Park School for the Performing Arts (2014-2022) and is making her debut back in her hometown as Carys.
In her graduation year, she worked with a variety of choreographers such as Adam Cooper, Vanessa Fenton, Jodie Blemmings and Simon Hardwick, for the Encore Dance Company 2022 graduate show. After graduating she performed a work choreographed by Olivia Pickford at The Stowaway Festival, Buckinghamshire. During training, she danced the roles of General’s Daughter and Mouse, in English National Ballet’s Nutcracker in 2014 & 2015 at the Coliseum, London and Empire Theatre, Liverpool. In 2016 she also performed in English National Ballet’s Le Corsaire at the Coliseum, London.
UNCLE IDRIS/SNOWFLAKE - Constant Vigier
Constant Vigier was born in Quimper, France. He started ballet at the age of 11 in Rueil-Malmaison and graduated from Paris Opera Ballet School.
He secured his first job in Hamburg Ballet, before joining Tivoli Copenhagen and Scottish Ballet in 2013. During his career with these three companies, Constant performed all around the world and worked with choreographers such as John Neumeier, Crystal Pite, David Dawson, Helen Pickett…
He recently left Scottish Ballet to pursue a career as a freelancer, in order to collaborate with new artists and create more of his own projects too.
FYSIL/SNOWFLAKE - Luke Bafico
Since graduating from Laban, Luke Bafico has performed for the likes of Holly Blakey, Ally Green and Marcus Jarrell-Willis, as well as self-producing work collaboratively as part of the queer dance duo Pierre & Baby, performing in a range of venues from Lilian Baylis Studio, Tate Modern, The Place, and Royal Vauxhall Tavern on theatre pieces, music videos, dance films, art installations and photoshoots and fashion shows.
This is his third production under Jamiel Devernay-Laurence, following Read-Only Memory, which premiered in the autumn of 2022.
MOTHER/SNOWFLAKE - Amber Howells
Amber Howells is a freelance dance artist from Cardiff. She graduated from Northern School of Contemporary Dance in 2020 with a First Class Honours and, during her training, worked with Lea Anderson MBE, Wayne Parsons, Fernanda Prata, Caroline Finn (through National Youth Dance Wales) and Ewan Jones for Netflix's Sex Education.
Since graduating, Amber has merged her practice as both a dancer and aspiring writer, creating short films for ForCardiff and OFGC. She has also worked as a dancer in Krystal S. Lowe's Daughters of the Sea, and on digital projects with Instant Dissidence and Yoodaloo Dance Theatre.
In 2021, Amber joined Rubicon Dance Company. She also works as an instructor for Heels Empowerment .
FATHER/SNOWFLAKE - Cameron Everitt
After graduating from Trinity Laban in 2017, Cameron Everitt joined the cast of Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake which toured both nationally and internationally.
As well as working with the likes of Arielle Smith, Jennifer White and Susie Crow, this year Cameron has been touring as a dancer/ puppeteer with ADT's Out of the Deep Blue and performed in a new revival of Aida at The Royal Opera House. Alongside this, Cameron's can also be seen in upcoming music videos, feature films and TV series.
TEGWEN/SNOWFLAKE - Chloe Davies
Chloe Davies graduated from London Studio Centre with a First Class Honours in 2020. Whilst in training she worked with choreographers Ben Wright, Andre Kamienski, Stuart Goodwin, Luke Birch, Katy Higgins and Caldonia Walton, at New Wimbledon Theatre, London.
Chloe was a founding member of Rubicon Dance Company, where she worked with Jamiel Devernay-Laurence, Marcus Jarrell Willis, Anna Watkins, Luke Ahmet & Camille Giraudeau, performing in The Nutcracker at The Riverfront Theatre Newport. She took part in a digital work 16:1 choreographed by Constant Vigier, performed for The Royals at Cardiff Castle for the Platinum Jubilee & most recently performed in a Triple Bill which featured brand new works by Jamiel Devernay-Laurence, Anna Watkins & Marcus Jarrell Willis.
TELERI - Rebecca Long
Hailing from Newport, South Wales, Rebecca Long graduated from Trinity Laban with a First-Class Honours degree in 2021. During this time she worked with companies such as Candoco Dance Company and Wayne McGregor Company, along with artists such as Jules Cunningham, Marina Collard and Daniel Squire. Rebecca then joined Cardiff-based Rubicon Dance Company, going on to star in both The Nutcracker and Triple Bill performances across Wales.
During her so-far short stint in the industry, she has worked with Marcus Jerrell Willis, Anna Watkins, Luke Ahmet, and many more. Now working as a dance teacher and freelancer, she is performing at Cardiff Christmas Festival's highly anticipated rendition of The Nutcracker by Jamiel Lawrence.
GRANDAD/SNOWFLAKE - Owen Morris
Owen Morris was born in Cornwall and began his dance training with ex-professional dancers Nicola Brice and Terence Etheridge. He also trained at Totnes School of Dance in Devon, Duchy Ballet, National Youth Ballet, and Cornwall Youth Dance Company. He pursued his professional vocational training in Scotland where he gained his BA (Hons) and toured throughout Scotland.
Owen's professional dance credits include: State Opera Varna Ballet in Bulgaria; Cape Town City Ballet in South Africa; Disney's The Nutcracker and The Four Realms; Leila - The Land of Imagination in the Middle East for Balich Worldwide Shows; Royal Opera House and Glyndebourne Summer Festival; lead role in Tom's Midnight Garden by Frankly Speaking Productions; and BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.
BOPA LINDA - Linda Sims
Linda Sims is over the moon to be joining the cast of The Nutcracker and performing at this year’s Cardiff Castle Christmas Festival in the Spiegeltent. She started stage school at the age of seven and has continued to dance for over sixty years. The thrill of being on stage is as exciting as ever for her!
BOPA SHEILA - Sheila Williams
Sheila Williams started dancing at the age of eight years. On retiring from her full-time employment as a care assistant, she continued with dance classes and joined a performance class for the over 50's. This is her second year of being asked to join the cast of The Nutcracker and Sheila cannot imagine life without dance and fitness classes in it.
MARI - Thea Martin
Thea Martin started dancing at the age of three and trains locally at The Ella Morgan School of Classical Ballet. She has attended The Bolshoi Ballet School, The Royal Ballet School, ABT and Paris Opera Ballet School intensives. In 2022 she was awarded the Child of Britain Young Performer Award.
She recently completed touring with The Welsh National Opera’s new production Migrations and is really excited to be performing with Jamiel Laurence Creations in the role of ‘Mari’.
THE MARI LWYD / NUTCRACKER DOLL - Zach Parkin
Zach Parkin graduated from Laine Theatre Arts in 2019 and has since worked on two new revival productions at The Royal Opera House. He has performed in numerous productions such as The Snowman (West End and Tour), and ABBA Voyage; he was also an original company member of KVN Dance Company’s Coppelia and has worked with choreographers such as Wayne Mcgregor and Matthew Bourne. Zach is also a freelance dancer and model, working in music videos, films and TV programmes.
MEET THE CREATIVES
Executive Producer
Cardiff Christmas Festival Ltd.
Director & Choreographer
Jamiel Devernay-Laurence
Lighting Design - Elanor Higgins
Costumes - Rhiannon Matthews & Jacob Steed
Design - Jamiel Laurence, Kathryn Williams
Music - Duke Ellington & Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Director & Choreographer – Jamiel Devernay Laurence
Jamiel Devernay Laurence is a Creative Producer of dance experiences for stage, screen and events across the UK.
Originally created for Rubicon Dance Company in December 2021 as part of the Welsh Dance Theatre Trust, Wales' first contemporary ballet version of The Nutcracker features a rich cast of recognisably Welsh characters and was performed on stage, adapted for schools across Wales and for HRH the Prince and Princess of Wales as part of the Cardiff Castle 2022 Jubilee Celebration.
After the closure of Rubicon Dance Company in September 2022, Cardiff Christmas Festival producers Richard Perry and John Manders asked Jamiel to return the production to the Welsh capital as part of the inaugural Spiegeltent festival at Cardiff Castle this year, and he is thrilled to be creating dance for Welsh audiences once again.
Rehearsal Director - Camille Giraudeau
After Graduating from LABAN Conservatoire in 2011, Camille Giraudeau joined National Dance Company Wales, firstly as an apprentice, then as a full company dancer in 2012. Alongside her freelance career, Camille considers herself extremely fortunate to have been part of NDCWales for almost 10 years.
Dancing and working with inspiring colleagues and choreographers, touring nationally and internationally has been a dream come true. Since leaving NDCWales in 2021 she is delighted, now, to be working with National Youth Arts Wales as their dance projects producer, helping generate opportunities for our future artists. Listening to the voices of our talented young dancers across Wales and responding by creating projects and platforms for developing and diversifying their skills. Alongside her work at NYAW she cherishes moments in the studio teaching class at NDCWales, Ballet Cymru, former Rubicon Dance Company and now the cast of The Nutcracker as well as connecting with other private and community dance settings.