Three of the world’s most acclaimed ballets were composed by Pyotr Tchaikovsky and choreographed by Marius Petipa: The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. Last week The Telegraph called The Nutcracker “the perfect ballet for children” for its running time of 2 hours, Christmas setting, and sparkling music.
Based on a story by E.T.A. Hoffmann, the ballet flopped at its 1892 Russian premiere. But after fine tuning in the 1950s and ’60s, it has reigned over the holiday repertoires of U.S. ballet and dance companies. Monterey County has four productions in the next few weeks, for families looking for some holiday magic.
Jeanne Robinson Dance Arts/Monterey County Ballet Company at Sherwood Hall
This is the 10th year that Jeanne Robinson’s dance company has performed The Nutcracker in Sherwood Hall, where they draw about 500 attendees each performance. The production has about 124 cast members, from 5-year-olds to those in their 70s – all students of hers.
“This is a classic version,” Robinson says, down to the Victorian-era costumes, the falling snow, and the music. “But I created a lot of stuff.”
The choreography, except for the iconic “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” is hers. Other trappings include light gobos to project images, colorful sets, ramped up action for the kids, and the Christmas tree that grows by cranking a winch.
“It’s fun to see what different companies and studios do with it,” she says.
7pm Fri, Nov. 24 (free dress rehearsal for special needs families), 7pm Sat, 2pm Sun (Nov. 25-26). $25/ages 12 and up; $15/ages 11 and under. 422-2719, jeanrobinsondancearts.com.
Dance Kids of Monterey County at Sunset Center
Carol Richmond founded the nonprofit Dance Kids of Monterey County in 1993 to bring dance and theater to local kids: “Not just those whose families can afford lessons or go to the theater,” she clarifies. “As many as we can touch.”
Like Cascanueces: A Latino Nutcracker, Jalisco harpist William Faulkner’s re-arrangements of The Nutcracker, played by 10 mariachi musicians, danced by 10 folklorico dancers, toured to six Salinas Valley schools last week.
For their traditional Nutcracker in December, they’ve had Youth Music Monterey score it live. This year, their 24th, they raised the money to bring in Carl Christensen’s 39-member Monterey County Pops! symphony orchestra.
“Carl’s an incredible conductor,” Richmond says. “He has an affinity for young people.”
So does Richmond. They’re bussing in 700 underserved kids for a free preview on Friday morning, Dec. 8.
Their production has more than 100 dancers, is set in Monterey’s Hotel Del Monte, with cameos by John Steinbeck, Louis Armstrong and Salvador Dali.
7pm Fri-Sat 5pm, 2pm Sun (Dec. 8-10 performances); 5pm Sat gala fundraiser ($65-$135); 12:15pm Sun champagne and tea party ($42-$95). Performances: $45-$49/adult, $35/child. 620-2048, sunsetcenter.org.
Monterey Peninsula Ballet Theatre at Sunset Center
Tia Brown and Laura Jeselnick, co-founders of The Dance Center in Carmel Rancho Shopping Center, have started new nonprofit Monterey Peninsula Ballet Theatre within that sophisticated dance studio. They’ve been busy with it, too, having done a fundraiser performance at Quail, a collaboration with Monterey Museum of Art, and signed on to do Christmas in the Adobes.
According to Brown, their inaugural Nutcracker is locally sourced: “I developed original choreography for the majority of the production and oversaw the artistic vision with highlights of creative choreography from [others].”
Their production has “no spins to the original,” they say. But they tout state of the art tutus, polished scenery and props, falling snow, and extra coats of glitter.
Also, they’re bussing in 5th graders on Friday morning for a free show.
7pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sun (Dec. 15-17 performances); 12pm Sun children’s party ($95). $40/adult, $37/student, active military, senior 60+, $32/child 12 and under. 620-2048, sunsetcenter.org.
Ballet Fantasque at Santa Catalina School
Ballet Fantasque has been doing The Nutcracker since the mid 1980s, according to its director, Milou Ivanovsky. The nonprofit company was founded by her mother, Kira, who lived to the age of 103, was taught by teachers from the Mariinsky and Bolshoi ballets, and danced with Ballet Russes.
That gives their Nutcracker more “European flavor,” says Ivanovsky. “Her training is present in the way the dancers dance, the expressivity of the upper body and arms. It’s a beautiful style, Russian and French.”
Their version features Milou and her mother’s original choreography, 55 dancers starting from age 5, guest artists, and bats and a bat queen instead of mice and a mouse king, to allow more movement and action. Also, theirs will have a narrator to save people from reading a synopsis.
“The Nutcracker is how a lot people get exposed to ballet,” Ivanovsky says. “So it’s a culturally important institution.”
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