The Nutcracker: A delightful, must-see treat
Special to The Okanagan Saturday The Nutcracker: For families, by families. As soon as I heard the first few notes of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s famous score this week, it took me back to my youth, watching strange-looking women with hula hoop skirts around their waists (tutus) and muscular men wearing white tights.
I didn’t understand the plot of this two-act ballet which premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia on Dec. 18, 1892, but the precisely choreographed movements of the dancers back and forth across the stage was mesmerizing.
Since that original production (which was not a success), The Nutcracker gained enormous popularity in the late 1960s and is now performed by countless ballet companies, especially in North America, and primarily during the Christmas season.
Tchaikovsky’s score has become one of his most famous compositions. So it was a natural for the Canadian School of Ballet to introduce its version to Okanagan audiences 27 years ago.
The Kelowna-based school, widely known for its family approach to dance instruction, had an instant sell-out, a popularity which continues to this day.
If there are any tickets left for today’s 2:30 p.m. matinee and 7:30 p.m. performance, they will be available at Kelowna Tickets, 250-8622867, or in person at the box office in Orchard Park Mall.
The dress rehearsal on Wednesday was virtually flawless, no doubt the result of intense weekend practices since late September.
At one point, though, a senior staff member from the school had to remind dancing children: “Don’t laugh.”
I laughed, especially when the youngest dancers were on stage, some looking around at the others to make sure they were all in unison.
It’s that kind of show: you can see the progression from the first tentative steps of the epitome-of-cute pre-schoolers to the sure-footed movements of the senior dancers.
I especially enjoyed the opening scene when parents of students played parents at a Christmas party. It was family members watching, enjoying and participating in their children’s fun.
The highlight without a doubt is the professional dancers from Ballet Kelowna and two guest (now retired) dancers: Connor Gnam as the Nutcracker who spent nine years with Ballet B.C.; and Chris Larsen as magical Uncle Drosselmeyr, a retired professional dancer who is now an instructor and choreographer.
The Ballet Kelowna dancers were: Desiree Bortolussi, Valentin Chou, Heather Thomson, Mark Dennis, Allison Lang and Kurt Werner, who play multiple roles. They all elevated The Nutcracker to sublime with their exquisite individual and paired performances. True artists. Professional to the core.
The surprise at the dress rehearsal was entrancing Hannah Zobel (who shares the coveted role of daughter Clara with Kendra Haskett) as the young girl whose dream is the central theme. She showed maturity far beyond her years, although she laughed and giggled like a typical teenager during our prerehearsal interview.
The Nutcracker is a delight, one which many will miss this year because of its enduring popularity. Next year, get those tickets early. You won't be disappointed. Neither will your children, although they may ask about those hula hoop skirts.