The Magic of The Nutcracker Ballet
A Review by Eva Dunn
Ron Cunningham's 25th year with the Sacramento Ballet, celebrated with The Nutcracker was a lively, magical affair, complete with elaborate costumes, fancy stage props, and talented dancers. The lobby was abuzz with happy children's voices, hundreds of people and us! My husband Tim and I had never been to the ballet, and had only seen The Nutcracker on television. After the performance, I asked Tim how he enjoyed his first time at the ballet and he said, "Extraordinary! Awesome!" and I agreed; this was a magical and superb production. I had been looking forward to seeing The Nutcracker ballet and I was thrilled.
Tim and I had never been to the ballet... and now that we have, we look forward to seeing other ballets. Tim told me his initial reaction just after the ballet began was "'... when do they start singing?" Mine was equally as funny as I watched the opening act, a flickering candle in the darkness; gradually the set is visible and we see the performers slowly sneaking across the floor. I instantly thought (as in movies) 'Oh! It's 3-D!' Seconds later I realized it was a ballet and LIVE! So funny!
The ballet is a dance of beauty, where gestures, body language and twirling feet portray the essence of the tale, whether it be joyful, mysterious or fantasy. Choreography and music are fused intimately as a living backdrop for the story, brought to life by exquisite executions of the dance troupe. The rich surroundings of tapestry, velvet, gilt and lighting (by Steve Odehnal) heighten the transformation of the stage to another world, a different era, another Time.
In the opening act, the audience was mesmerized by the holiday party scene at the Tannenbaum's home. The party cast members managed to captivate the audience with colorful expressions and cutesy scenarios. I was very impressed with the handling of theatrical props that brought the magic to life in such a confined space. The living room Christmas tree, once Clara (Clare Agustin) slumbered, magically grew and grew and grew under the magic spell of Dr. Drosselmeyer until she and the Nutcracker (the head magically transformed into a man's) were tiny under its branches. Then the Dream sequences were played out. Bravo, Bravo!! The entertaining escapades of little dancing mice, the Nutcracker (Alex Stewart) and the Mouse King wowed the audience with their amazing jumping abilities and thrilling sword fight scene.
To Clara’s enjoyment, there was still more to be seen. A giant gingerbread house, known as Mother Ginger, dances onto the Sugar Plum Fairy’s court. She opens her skirt and eight little gingerbread children come dancing out circling around her. After the Mirliton dance is over, the children quickly scurry back under her skirt and Mother Ginger leaves the room. As she exits, dancing flowers enter to the tune of the harp. Perhaps the most beautiful waltz she has ever heard, Clara and the Nutcracker Prince watch with amazement. The whole performance was magical, wonderful, and skillfully danced. The Waltz of the Flowers was delightful, with the different colors of flowers, and their beautiful dance. The flowers dance in beautiful mesmerizing patterns as a single Dewdrop floats above them.
The sunlit square where much of the dancing for Act II took place was bright; tones of golden sunlight bathing the walls were realistic and warm. You were lost in the performances, the dance.. and the stage never appeared to be just a brightly lit stage. It became a place in time, another country, a different season, serene beautiful winter with white, falling snow and stars glittering the in the night sky. Superb lighting enhanced the scenes, whether it was sunlight, a wintry night under the stars or warm room lighting. That in itself is quite an art and deserves recognition as it strengthens the illusion of the scenes.
Hot coco dances to the lively music of trumpets and castanets of the Spanish fandango. The women of coffee dance in veils and move their bodies like rising steam to an Arabian song, while Mandarin tea dances to an exotic Asian flute chorus. Perhaps most remarkable was the dance of the Matroishkas (Russian dolls), flawlessly danced, thrilling the audience with a series of gravity-defying toe touches and breathtaking pirouettes.
I find myself smiling as I write this, the memory of the color, music, and dance of this wonderful ballet will stay with me always! I especially loved the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, beautifully executed, showcasing several sequences of pirouettes. The beauty was magnificent and I realized I had been holding my breath as she danced on her toes flawlessly. I knew then why so many little girls in the audience had worn their ballet outfits; I would want to be a ballet dancer also!
The majestic Reindeer pulling the sled for the Snow Queen and King were prancing in unison and beautiful. The Snowflakes' moves were perfect, like snowflakes falling on a moonlit night. The surrounding dancers and trees showcased the perfect scene. I thought I could choose a favorite scene but I really can't... it was all so amazing and lovely, exciting and thrilling. A perfect ballet for the holiday season! Tchaikovsky's score for The Nutcracker was the most familiar music; I remember hearing it for years and although it was not live music this evening, it was still so inspiring to hear. Other favorites he wrote were The Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake both written in the late 1800's. He left a magnificent legacy of music that is so beautiful.
Ron Cunningham's The Nutcracker showcases almost 500 children every year; that's the largest cast of children in a professional production anywhere in the world! He and his wife Carinne Binda not only bring beautiful ballet to our region but also programs that deepen, and broaden audiences like Modern Masters, Beer & Ballet and Inside The Director's Studio. They foster outreach programs to over 40 different social service agencies and provide programs to school age children at risk through high school age. They are certainly inspiring and educating our children through the vehicle of powerful dance.
Understandably, they are the first Artists to be recognized by being the recipients of the 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sacramento Arts & Business Council. You can introduce a child to the magical world of ballet by your $20 contribution to Send a Child to the Ballet program which often is a child's first experience at a live performance. Last year, more than 1,700 children from 34 different social service groups and schools enjoyed their first performance through this program. Contact 916-552-5800x102 for more information or email vanessa@sacballet.org
Season 58: a Silver Celebration! continues in 2013 with Ron Cunningham’s first new ballet in five years, The Great Gatsby, at the Community Center Theater February 7-9, 2013, at 7:30pm; February 10, 2pm. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s great American novel – The Great Gatsby – will be brought to life through dance with the help of live period music from Billy Novick’s Blue Syncopators. The Roaring 20’s and Prohibition set the backdrop, during one of our country’s most tumultuous periods of change, for this story of passion, greed and loss. In keeping with the theme of early 20th Century American culture, Gatsby is paired with George Balanchine’s classic tribute to the era – Who Cares? – to the music of George Gershwin.
Find a package that works for you and fax it, along with payment info, to: http://www.sacballet.org/images/uploads/SubscriptionPacket_Online.pdf
Individual Tickets range between $17-$70. See the season lineup at www.sacballet.org/index.php/season/420/ 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 a set price and will not receive an additional % off) For more information http://www.sacballet.org
All photos courtesy Sacramento Ballet by Keith Sutter
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