By Claudia Carbone
The Nutcracker Ballet is a warm holiday tradition enjoyed by families every year, and mine is no exception. I went to opening day matinee with my oldest granddaughter Amanda, 29, my daughter Kathleen who lives here and her little girl, my youngest grandie Leona, a kindergartener at University Park School. Here’s how each generation reacted to Colorado Ballet’s 56th performance of the beloved classic.
Jose Varona’s sets captivated all our hearts immediately. In the opening scene, the Christmas Eve party at the home of Clara’s parents is in full swing with parents and children around a huge decorated tree dominating the lavish ballroom. With the striking of the clock, which Leona noted was in the shape of an owl, Clara’s godfather and erstwhile magician (Gregory K. Gonzales) appears, bringing dancing dolls among his gifts. The most cherished gift is a nutcracker he gives to Clara (Emily Speed). Her brother Fritz (Bryce Lee) gets a bag of nuts.
After everyone goes to bed and the owl strikes midnight, Clara returns to dance in delight with the nutcracker. Suddenly, large mice appear in the dark, and Leona asks me if this is the “scary part.”
“Not too scary,” I reply, as the godfather appears and makes the tree grow twice its height, and the nutcracker becomes a life-size soldier who leads his men in a fight against the Mouse King. Just when I thought Leona would become disinterested with this boys’ battle, the Nutcracker turns into a handsome prince (Ariel Breitman) who dances Clara off to the Land of Snow in a secluded forest. Leona is transfixed.
In this ethereal scene, Clara and the Nutcracker Prince perform a lovely pas de deux followed by the Waltz of the Snowflakes by the corps de ballet dressed in long pale turquoise tulle tutus. It’s one of the most beautiful scenes in all of classic ballet. As they dance, snow falls, lightly at first, then heavier, covering the stage floor.
“I hope they don’t slip!” Amanda whispers, echoing Kathleen and my exact thoughts.
Note: A former Colorado Ballet dancer said many dancers put rosin on their shoes for extra traction in that scene; and, with practice, typically don’t slip. More of a concern is seeing. When the tiny paper snow is coming down hard (each performance uses 100 pounds of it), it can be difficult to see. Knowing the choreography well is important in this dance. We all agreed it was our favorite.
Except Leona. . .her favorite part comes in Act II when the Nutcracker Prince takes Clara to the Kingdom of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Here they sit side-by-side while dancers from different lands perform before them. The Arabians (Shelby Dyer and Luis Valdes) are especially beguiling.
“I like how they sit next to each other in friendship,” Leona observes. She also likes the colorful Waltz of the Flowers—“they were pretty”—and Mother Ginger, the big lady with the big skirt from where her children emerge. Mother draws lots of giggles from little heads in the audience.
The Sugar Plum Fairy (lovely Sharon Wehner) and Cavalier (Domenico Luciano, the six-foot-three Italian import and newest principal) perform a romantic pas de deux and dynamic en pointe solos. The reason Sugar Plum Fairy can be on her toes so much, Leona explains, is because “she has special shoes.”
After much fun and dancing in the Land of Sweets, the Prince carries Clara back to her home where she wakes next to the tree.
Was it all a dream? Leona isn’t sure. . .
I was happy to see that she enjoyed the entire production and didn’t fall asleep or become restless as I think any child younger than five would. It helps that there are lots of little people on stage—76 children split between three casts this year—and colorful costumes and variety of dances help to hold short attention spans. Perhaps that’s why The Nutcracker remains such a tradition.
The Nutcracker runs through December 24. Visit www.coloradoballet.org for tickets and performance dates.
Boutique
An added bit of fun for our girls’ day at the ballet was shopping at the boutique in the lobby of the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Nutcracker-themed Christmas decorations, toys and gifts are for sale one hour before the show, during intermission and after the performance. Leona loves her Clara ornament.
Denver native Claudia Carbone is an award-winning journalist covering travel, restaurants and performing arts for magazines and websites.