Less than 24 hours after being stolen, a truck carrying essential sets and backdrops for an Ontario-wide tour of The Nutcracker has been found, as confirmed by the head of the ballet company.
“Someone took Christmas away from us, but now it’s back,” stated Bengt Jörgen, the artistic director and CEO of Jörgen Dance, during an interview on CBC Radio’s Metro Morning on Tuesday.
Following the theft, the company had urgently requested the public to report any sightings of the 26-foot truck to the authorities, emphasizing that it held the core elements of their holiday tour across Ontario.
Ballet Jörgen had planned performances of the beloved holiday ballet from late November to December in various cities including Burlington, Orillia, and Ottawa. Despite the setback, the company had committed to proceeding with the scheduled show in Burlington even if the sets were not recovered.
Jörgen expressed relief that the show would go on as planned with all sets and costumes intact, ensuring a complete performance for the audience.
The company’s general manager, Stephen Word, had disclosed that security camera footage revealed the theft of the rental storage truck at approximately 3:30 a.m. from its location in Etobicoke.
The turning point came when Peel Regional Police notified the company late Monday evening that the truck had been located in Brampton, prompting a jubilant response from Jörgen Dance members.
CBC Toronto has reached out to the police for confirmation of the truck’s recovery.
Generous Offers to Assist in Replacing Sets
Clea Iveson, the academy director at Jörgen Dance, recounted the frantic efforts on Monday to find alternative solutions for staging the show without the stolen set.
She highlighted the relief felt upon receiving news of the truck’s recovery, indicating the immense impact it had on their preparations.
Francesco Ventriglia, the artistic director of Alberta Ballet, acknowledged the significance of The Nutcracker and the community’s shared anticipation around the production. Ventriglia’s company, having retired their old Nutcracker set after 17 years, offered their unused set to assist Jörgen Dance.
The solidarity within the ballet community extended to Kelly Summers-Welch, co-producer of The Nutcracker Holiday Spectacular at The Dance Class studio in Milton, Ontario, who also volunteered their set for the cause.
Summers-Welch emphasized the communal importance of The Nutcracker in uniting people and igniting the festive spirit, underscoring the significance of arts in challenging times.
Prior to the recovery of the stolen truck, several individuals had reached out to Jörgen Dance, volunteering to construct replacement sets, showcasing a heartwarming display of support and solidarity.
David Rademaker, a contractor and parent of one of the performers, who had offered to build a replacement sleigh, expressed happiness that the original set was retrieved intact, enabling him to witness his daughter’s performance.
Rademaker, despite his efforts not