Goh Ballet has been given the green light to use the Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts as the venue for its annual Nutcracker production in December.

The dance company’s booking at the Centre was abruptly cancelled in May amid reports an evangelical church was in the process of purchasing the downtown facility as its new home.

Chan Hon Goh, Nutcracker's executive producer, said she has since spoken with Norm Funk, lead pastor of Vancouver’s Westside Church, and arranged to keep the booking.

“Right now it’s a verbal agreement but we’re working on a contractual agreement. To me, it’s definite,” Goh told the Straight by phone today (June 7).

“It shouldn’t change what we were planning to present at all.”

Goh Ballet has been staging the Nutcracker at the Centre annually since 2009. This year’s production is being expanded to include eight shows, running from December 14 to 22.

More than 200 dancers have been cast for the production, with most having been selected during open auditions held in Metro Vancouver.

Goh said she is pleased to able to present the Nutcracker once again at the Centre.

“I think it will mean so much to the hundreds of families that are involved with the cast, but it also means such an amazing celebration for over 10,000 audience goers.”