The Mini‑Nutcracker comes to Valdres

The performance is a short and child‑friendly version of the well‑known Nutcracker story, designed to give children a direct and accessible introduction to classical music.

The Mini‑Nutcracker is performed by the trio På Spissen – Julie Yuqing Ye (piano), Siril Aufles Valberg (piano), and Julie Schartum Dokken (dance and choreography). Through music, dance, and storytelling, they present excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite in a way that invites children to participate through simple movements and rhythmic elements. This interactive approach is a central part of the trio’s established artistic practice in productions for young audiences.

– Becoming a mother of two has made me even more aware of the need for concert formats that truly focus on children and families. With the Mini‑Nutcracker, we have the opportunity to introduce the music of Pyotr Tchaikovsky to the very youngest, while also allowing them to take an active part in the performance. Many associate The Nutcracker with winter and Christmas, but the music itself has no seasonal boundaries. I believe this will be a wonderful experience for both children and adults. So bring the whole family and join us at Valdres Folk Museum on Sunday, 28 June at 12:00, says Artistic Director Guro Kleven Hagen.

Activities after the performance

After the performance, the family day continues at Slidrehuset, where children can try various classical instruments under the guidance of culture school teacher Eivind Dølerud. In addition, Anica Seljestad will host creative table activities where children can make small music‑inspired figures.

Juice and waffles will be served for the children, and coffee for the adults.

The people behind the trio

Julie Schartum Dokken

Julie Schartum Dokken is a dancer, choreographer, and educator with a background from the Oslo National Academy of the Arts, NTNU, and the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. She works across a wide range of dance styles and has experience from both full‑length ballet productions and smaller performances. She has danced for, among others, the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, Florida Classical Ballet, and Bodø Ballet Company, and is active within both contemporary dance and jazz. As a choreographer, she has created works for the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, DUOA, Barnas Musikkteater, and the Vulkan Quartet.

Julie Yuqing Ye

Julie Yuqing Ye is a pianist and educator based in Oslo. She has performed as a soloist and chamber musician at venues such as the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, Oslo Concert Hall, Troldhaugen, and Wigmore Hall in London. She has appeared as a soloist with several Norwegian symphony orchestras and took part in NRK’s Grieg: Minute by Minute broadcast in 2018. Ye was educated at Barratt Due Institute of Music, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the Norwegian Academy of Music, where she completed the Diploma programme in 2018. She has participated in numerous festivals, including the Oslo Chamber Music Festival, Hardanger Music Festival, and the Beijing International Music Festival.

Siril Aufles Valberg

Siril Aufles Valberg is a pianist and educator graduated from the Norwegian Academy of Music and Barratt Due Institute of Music. She has performed at festivals such as the Oslo Chamber Music Festival, the Oslo International Church Music Festival, and the Helgeland Festival, and has appeared on stages including Troldhaugen, the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, and the University Aula in Oslo. Valberg has received several awards, contributed to CD recordings, and is a sought‑after chamber musician and accompanist. She is the regular pianist of the duo Musikkgalleriet, with more than 150 concerts in recent years, and leads the piano department at the Toppen International Summer Music School.