14 replies to this topic

[dirac]

Cory Stearns and Michele Wiles will perform in the Goh Ballet's Nutcracker.

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Stearns, who hails from an athletic Long Island family, says his role as a guest artist with a young company brings back memories for him. The Royal Ballet School grad is again candid: "I probably had more fun at seven or eight than I do now—to be on-stage and not aware of the expectations of the people paying money to see you. When you're not aware of that pressure or expectation, there's just such a joy. When I go to these schools, they're so excited to have these guest artists."

The fact that the Goh's students and preprofessionals will be able to share the stage with dancers of this calibre—and that Vancouver audiences will be able to see them—is a bit of a coup. Neither Stearns nor Wiles has ever set a slippered foot in Vancouver before.

[dirac]

Cincinnati Ballet prepares its new Nutcracker. Video.

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Victoria Morgan is spearheading a two million dollar re-creation of the time-honored masterpiece. "It's the biggest project of my entire career," said Morgan. "Entirely new sets, costumes, characters were created to fulfill a vision."

It's Morgan's vision, her choreography, and her interpretation which is whimsical, humorous and unpredictable.

[dirac]

David Hallberg and Hee Seo appear on The Colbert Report.

The Los Angeles Times. Video.

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It was all very tasteful and dignified, that is until Colbert decided to join in. Dressed in a conservative dark blazer and a pair of semi-sheer ballet tights, Colbert hopped and flitted about the stage, pausing once to draw attention to his (ahem) codpiece. As snowflakes fell from the ceiling, Colbert caught ballerina Seo and gracefully dipped her toward the ground.

The New York Times. Video.

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Despite Stephen Colbert’s accusations that Mr. Hallberg was “Benedict Arnold in slightly tighter pants,” the dancer gently reminded him that “the cold war’s over.” He went on to discuss his decision to leave the United States for Moscow to pursue his dreams in dance. “I love a challenge, I love risk,” Mr. Hallberg said. Mr. Colbert responded: “There’s nothing risky or challenging in the United States? Dance on fire. Do the ‘Firebird’ on fire.”

[dirac]

"Apollo's Angels" is out in paperback.

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Jennifer Homans’ book, “Apollo’s Angels: A History of Ballet” has had a remarkable run. Published in November 2010 -– and just out in paperback –- the 550-page authoritative history of ballet is a bestseller, according to publisher Random House.

[dirac]

Matthew Bourneappears on BBC Breakfast. Video.

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Matthew Bourne's contemporary remake of The Nutcracker is returning to Sadler's Wells Theatre to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
The choreographer says he has built his career in ballet by approaching well loved stories and giving them a contemporary feel.

[dirac]

Central Pennsylvania Youth Balletpresents Balanchine's Nutcracker.

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Some parents do more than just attend the “Nutcracker” performances. Nancie Imler became involved with CPYB when her daughter, Carrie, began what would be a decade of training there in 1984. Over the years, she volunteered to help with costuming, the box office and served on the CPYB board three times. Today, Carrie Imler is a principal dancer at the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle, but her mom continues to attend “Nutcracker.” “Attending a ‘Nutcracker’ performance is a wonderful gift for family members to experience ballet ... as an art form,” Nancie Imler said. “It is truly a gift to its communities.”

[dirac]

Chelsea Clinton will host the Live from Lincoln Center broadcast of New York City Ballet's Nutcracker.

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PBS’s Live from Lincoln Center premiere of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker will include some intermission programming from Chelsea Clinton, says spokeswoman Eva Chien. The NBC reporter will be interviewing New York City Ballet head Peter Martins as well as some children. Which means, obviously, no Peter Martins or children in any Clinton stories for NBC. Non-Peter Martins adults only from here on out.

[dirac]

A preview of Miami City Ballet'sNutcracker in the Miami New Times.

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But most of the stories are heartwarming. "One of my most touching memories was a deaf child who played a bunny," says Gardiner. "This was many years go in a performance in Clearwater. We had an orchestra and she felt the music through the floor."

With six performances in four days, MCB principal dancer Jennifer Kronenberg says one of the challenges of The Nutcracker and its rigorous performance schedule is to keep each performance fresh and new: "One thing that has always helped inspire me is the thought that somewhere in the audience of every single performance there is a child, an adult, or a whole family who has never, ever, seen The Nutcracker. For them, the magic of the production will be entirely new and exciting.

[dirac]

Dance Prism presents its twenty-ninth Nutcracker.

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More than 350 costumes enhance a cast of 140 that includes the professional dancers, apprentices of the company and aspiring ballet students drawn from statewide open auditions, including some from Andover.

[dirac]

Goldstar announces the nominees for its annual National Nutcracker Award.

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The Goldstar National Nutcracker Award, which made its debut in 2007, is awarded to the The Nutcracker with the best member reviews and event rating. To assure the authenticity of the ratings, members are only able to submit reviews and vote on their favorite Nutcracker after they have purchased tickets and seen the show.

[dirac]

Ballet Midwest presents its Nutcracker.

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The 35th anniversary edition of the ballet also will be a special one as Ballet Midwest conducted special fundraising to make up for cutbacks in Kansas Arts Commission funding. Money raised has allowed for a new Act II backdrop, two new stage fog machines, a new snow machine, renovation of the cannons used in the battle between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King, and "quite a few new costumes," Ebert said.

[dirac]

A review of Ballet Concerto by Mark Lowry in The Star-Telegram of Fort Worth.

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Many performing arts organizations do shows for schoolchildren. It's good for outreach, community building and giving kids a glimpse of the arts. Hopefully they'll be interested enough to become patrons later in life, if not entertain artistic inclinations themselves. But Thursday morning, the full house of more than 2,000 bussed-in children for Ballet Concerto's "A Holiday Special" got an unexpected but equally important message about the arts: The show must go on.

[dirac]

Central Florida Ballet collaborates with the Ballet Sibiu of Romania on this season's Nutcracker.

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Petrutiu had received several invitations from Ovidiu Dragoman, the CEO of arts and cultural affairs in Sibiu, to take part in various Romanian cultural events. In 2011, he was a judge at the 2011 International Dance Competition in Sibiu, where Dragoman viewed a recording of Central Florida Ballet's "The Nutcracker."

A joint venture between the two ballet companies was then formed: The production's premiere performances will be in Orlando Friday-Sunday, Dec. 9–11, with performances to follow in Sibiu later that month.

[dirac]

Ballet Theatre San Luis Obispo presents "La Boutique Fantasque."

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Based on the 1919 ballet by Léonide Massine, “La Boutique Fantasque” is set at the title toy shop run by a widowed shopkeeper (Thomas Bourne) and his daughter (Abigail Dorman).

[dirac]

The Russian Ballet of Orlandopresents its Nutcracker. Item in brief.

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As the Russian Ballet of Orlando celebrates its 12th holiday season in Central Florida, it welcomes a special guest to its "Nutcracker" performances. Denes Darab, of the Slovenian National Theater in Maribor, Slovenia, will perform as the Prince in all shows.