“A Timeless Holiday Classic, The Nutcracker”
By Jennifer Benton
The Nutcracker has been the source of delightful memories for children and their families for 40 years. It’s a gift that lasts a lifetime and inspires the dancer in us all. Entering his 21st year bringing his own version of this classic holiday tradition to the Sacramento Ballet, Ron Cunningham, artistic director, continues to impress. Reaching out and offering opportunities to build confidence, and create magic for over 400 children from all walks of life to come and perform alongside professional dancers with a live orchestra is only one way the Sacramento Ballet gives back to the community. While only handfuls of these children go on to pursue careers in dance, the experience of being a part of this wondrous production leaves quite an impression on their lives and builds memories that will live in their hearts for a lifetime. Performing as Tiny Mice, Christmas Dolls, Cooks, or Cherubs these tiny dancers make the Sacramento Ballet’s unique Nutcracker the largest cast of children anywhere in the world.
This year as my daughter Jaina (3) and I put on our jewelry and coiffed our hair we excitedly anticipated seeing the Nutcracker together for the second time. This year was especially exciting because two of the children performing, Noah Mackes (Fritz) and Nicole Mackes (Reindeer) both take dance with Miss Nancy at the Elk Grove Dance Center, where Jaina also takes tap and ballet. Unfortunately, Noah was not in the Dec. 6th performance we attended but it was still fun to find Nicole amongst the eager Reindeer prancing through the snow-filled stage. Although Jaina is still quite young, the story filled her mind and her curiosity wove a tapestry of Nutcracker questions: “Mommy, why is that boy so mean?” (Fritz), and “What about that Rat King? He’s so scary!”, and “How come it is snowing up there and not right here on us?” and so on and so on and so on.
Opening Night! The familiar buzz of excitement filled the auditorium, the curtain lifted and the magic began. From the mesmerizing scenery to the delightful, cherished story of Clara and her beloved Nutcracker, it was perfection. The flawless dancers appeared to effortlessly move in sync with the most popular and familiar ballet score of all time while the Philharmonic Orchestra gave a performance that could only honor the brilliance of Tchaikovsky. The Nutcracker ran for 13 performances through December 24, 2008. What a wonderful holiday experience!
The story of The Nutcracker takes you from Christmas Eve in the streets of a quaint European village and onward to a Christmas Party at the Stahlbaum’s house, to Clara’s dreams and through a Snowflake Forest where the majestic Snow Queen (Amanda Peet) and King (Richard Porter) appear in a sleigh drawn by tiny reindeer while snowflakes danced all around them. The magic continued as we approached the Kingdom of Sweets where Clara (Haley Finerman) and the Nutcracker (John Speed Orr) pass through gossamer clouds and a company of angels as they approach the Palace of Sweets and receive a royal welcome from the Sugar Plum Fairy (Kirsten Bloom) and her Cavalier (Stefan Calka).
The royal entertainment began with Chocolate from Spain(Alexandra Cunningham and Richard Smith) dancing a lively bolero and moved seamlessly into the soft undulating strains that accompany Coffee from Arabia (Amanda Peet and Richard Perter) and bubbling tea from China(John Speed Orr). The lively candy canes(Heidi Zolker and Timothy Coleman) were followed by Marzipan Shepherdesses(Chloe Felesina, Rachelle Butler, Isha Lloyd, Brik Middlekauff, and Merett Miller) dancing to the enchanting sound of reed flutes as Peppermints from Russia (Gabriel Williams with Darwin Black and John Whisler) performed a nimble, energetic Trepak. France offers us my personal favorite, Mother Ginger (Nolan T’Sani) with her skirt full of Gingerbread Children (Taylor Graves, Carolyn Lidster, Kate Lidster, AnneMarie Rodgers, Isabelle Roselli, Kylie Toy, Aaron Travis, and Jade Von Aesh. All of the beautiful flowers (Ilana Goldman as the Rose with Cort Larson and Sunchai Muy) of the kingdom perform a waltz to honor Clara and the spellbinding dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier are the cherry on top of this decadent experience.
As Clara’s dream came to an end, each group of dancers returned to bid her adieu as she departed for home in a tremendous hot air balloon. Typically in a performance there are one of two dancers who stand out and impress a level of energy and commitment that surpasses the majority of the company; however, this year there seemed to be a constant stream of intensity from the company as a whole and the energy radiated off of the dancers and into our hearts. Ron Cunningham continues to choreograph beautifully inspiring dance routines that captivate the audience and challenge the dancers creating yet another memorable masterpiece.
Please do your part to help keep the arts flourishing in our communities all year long. The hard economic times have affected us all and the dedication and commitment of the artistic directors, dancers, production staff, and enthusiastic volunteers are counting on all of us to ensure the Ballet’s success. Continue your holiday tradition and if it hasn’t been one for you, make this the year the memories are created. Enrich your family’s life and preserve the arts in one act of generosity. For more information on purchasing tickets or making donations to the Sacramento Ballet, visit their website at www.sacballet.org.
Tickets for the Sacramento Ballet’s Production of The Nutcracker are available at the Community Center Theater Box Office, 916-808-5181, or through http://Tickets.com, 800-225-2277. Individual ticket prices range from $14.00 - $31.50 for children ages 12 and under, and $28 - $63 for adults. Groups of 10 or more get 10% off individual tickets. Groups of 20 or more receive 20% off individual tickets. (Groups may consist of adults and children; the adult ticket price will reflect the discount, children’s ticket prices are already discounted at 50% of adult ticket costs and will not receive an additional % off) Sacramento Ballet’s 2008-2009 Season continues through May 24, 2009. For information on any Sacramento Ballet program, visit www.sacballet.org, or call 916-552-5800 x108.
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