CENTERblog

The Nutcracker Ballet - "the perfect holiday treat..."
by Hannah Swanson - West High School

If you have a sweet tooth during the holidays, George Balanchine’s, The Nutcracker, is a tasty tidbit to start the Christmas season. Oregon Ballet Theatre, in collaboration with Alaska Dance Theatre, performed beautifully with the Anchorage Symphony on Friday afternoon. It was an inspiring, beautiful performance to spark imagination for all ages.

The show began with Marie and Fritz Stahlbaum awaiting their wonderful holiday party. Family and friends soon gathered, and classic partnering dances were performed cleanly. But the climatic end to the party is when Fritz broke Marie’s Nutcracker Doll in a jealous fit. The acting was a fair demonstration, could have been more natural, and not so constricted to straight choreography. Although keeping in mind the children’s age, or lack of performing in front of a large audience. But the small bits of humor, like Fritz pulling on Clara’s hair, or a girl hiding underneath Clara’s dress not wanting to leave, made a personal connection.

Before intermission was the first ballet piece of the show, Waltz of the Snowflakes. This piece is full of crescendos, with crashing cymbals, and fast violins. Balanchine choreography is known for extremely fast footwork, dizzying turns, but having beautiful, soft port de bras, or arms, on the upper body. The spinning of the white dresses, and the falling of snow, was a beautifully performed piece, and is was a wonderful end to the first act.

After the intermission Marie and her Prince were transported to the Palace of the Land of Sweets, where the most delectable portion of the show begins. Spanish Chocolate; arrive in gold character skirts, and demonstrate kicking their feet to touch their heads. Chinese Tea; perform 6 toe touches in a row! German Marzipan, Russian Candy Canes, and Arabian Coffee all perform with mesmerizing footwork, and gravity defying leaps.

Another one of Balanchine’s famous works is the Waltz of the Flowers. Green and pink tulle skirts float like petals, as the Dew Drop Soloist dances between them. Cannons were common in this piece, as the music had repeating chimes of a triangle, or a flute.

But the icing on the cake is the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. Their pas de deux showed beauty and power effortlessly. The grand finale of arabesques and lifts had the audience on their feet. Marie and her Prince made their way back home, bidding farewell to the Land of Sweets.

The Nutcracker is a classic, seasonal, favorite for families. It is the perfect treat for Christmas that you don’t have to feel guilty about!

The Nutcracker
Anchorage Concert Association
Friday, November 28 at 2pm
Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, Atwood Concert Hall