As the holidays draw near, it's time for the wonderful tradition in dance of The Nutcracker Ballet. This year there are a superb variety of Nutcracker productions for audiences to choose from, each promising something unique, and all sure to bring viewers that warm and fuzzy holiday feeling.
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The Joffrey Ballet's Nutcracker.
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In case it's been a while since you've seen The Nutcracker, or you've never been quite sure what all those tutus and sequins are about, here's a quick recap of The Nutcracker history and story, which most productions follow. The Nutcracker Ballet was originally based on a book called The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, written by E. T. A. Hoffman in 1816 and later revised by French author Alexandre Dumas. In 1891, legendary choreographer Marius Petipa commissioned Tchaikovsky to compose the score for the Nutcracker Ballet and, in 1892, the first showing of The Nutcracker took place at the Marriinsky Theatre of Russia, home of the Kirov Ballet. By the 1930s The Nutcracker had made its way through Western Europe and by the 1940s had been performed in America by the Ballet Russe. In the 1950s George Balanchine choreographed his own version of The Nutcracker and the trend quickly spread, making it an annual holiday tradition for companies all over the country.
The story follows a young girl named Clara who, on Christmas Eve, is given a toy Nutcracker in the form of a soldier in full regalia by her godfather. Clara falls asleep under the Christmas tree with the toy tucked in her arms, though when she wakes up the Nutcracker has become a real soldier and is fighting to save Clara from the Mouse King and his vermin minions. Upon victory, the now real-life Nutcracker Prince whisks Clara away to the Land of Snow where they are welcomed by dancing snowflakes, then on to the Land of Sweets where they encounter the Sugar Plum Fairies. The Prince tells of the battle with the Mouse King and the Fairies reward them with a celebration of dances, including Spanish, Arabian, Russian and Chinese dances, as well as the Waltz of the Flowers. At the end of the journey Clara wakes up under the Christmas tree with the Nutcracker doll in her arms, only to wonder if it was all a dream.
The Joffrey Ballet's 20th anniversary presentation of The Nutcracker will be one of the longest running productions this year and undoubtedly one of the most spectacular. This show opens today ( Dec. 12 ) and runs through Dec. 30 at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress. Featuring Robert Joffrey's and Gerald Arpino's uniquely American choreography styles and the full Joffrey ensemble, the production also includes a giant puppet designed by Kermit Love, five local children's choruses and more than 120 young dancers ages nine to fourteen. The Chicago Sinfonietta, under the baton of principal conductor Dr. Leslie B. Dunner, will provide live musical accompaniment of the beloved Tchaikovsky score. ( 312 ) 386-8899; $25-$125.
The Civic Ballet of Chicago, led by Chicago dance icons Larry Long and Dolores Lipinski Long, presents The Nutcracker at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie, Skokie, Dec. 14-15. Civic Ballet bridges the gap between studio and stage for young pre-professional dancers and has a national reputation for some of the highest caliber training, meaning you won't notice a different in technique between these young dancers and their more seasoned counterparts. And for its production of The Nutcracker, Civic Ballet will include actors with scripted dialogue in the first act to help younger audiences understand the story better. 847-673-6300; $35.
Another studio company known for outstanding training and performance is Ballet Chicago. Led by artistic director Dan Duell and school director Patricia Blaire, they present The Nutcracker Dec. 14-16 at The Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport. If you're looking for a Nutcracker performance that's more affordable than The Joffrey, but also closer in to the city, this charming and magical production is for you. 312-902-1500; $12-$30.
A little bit closer to Christmas brings us to the Von Heidecke's Festival Ballet production of The Nutcracker, Dec. 21-23 at McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell, Glen Ellyn. This Nutcracker is choreographed by founder and artistic director Kenneth Von Heidecke, who is known for his attention to precision and discipline, and merges technical prowess with refined athleticism and crowd-pleasing acrobatics. Tchaikovsky's score will be skillfully executed by the New Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of conductor and music director Kirk Muspratt. 630-942-4000; $23-$33.
For those audiences still keen on dance in December but who don't have a taste for the sugary Nutcracker productions, don't despair; there are still some shows for you. On Dec. 13-15, Mordine & Company Dance Theatre presents The 800 Lb. Gorilla in the Room ... ( What We're Not Talking About ) . With a huge election just around the corner and many hot topics at the forefront of debate, this show challenges the viewer to consider what issues we may have forgotten about, or what we may be burying our heads in the sand about. Through the mediums of dance, theatre and performance art, Mordine & Co. brings together a collection of artists to tackle these issues, including Breakdone DanceCo., 3 card molly, LiveWire Chicago Theatre, Cristal Sabbagh and Minnesota-based HIJACK. The Ruth Page Theatre, 1016 N. Dearborn; 312-337-6543; $15-$20.
Lastly, Asimina Chremos presents a new evening-length solo performance called Red Swan, Red Swan at Link's Hall, 3435 N. Sheffield, Dec. 14-15. The work is inspired, in part, by the biography of legendary ballerina Margot Fonteyn, particularly the artistic renaissance late in her career that came about through her partnership with Rudolph Nureyev. In Red Swan, Chremos researches how the practice and performance of dance can bridle, efface, liberate or transform desire. 773-281-0824; $10.
