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[Mme. Hermine]

An overview of Carolina Ballet's Nutcracker:

http://www.jdnews.co...er-raleigh.html

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For a man whose magic supposedly inspired a battle between a Nutcracker prince and the Mouse King, Drosselmeyer's tricks seem, well, kind of lame. The Carolina Ballet is changing that this year with a production of "The Nutcracker" that has Las Vegas-caliber illusions, including an angel who levitates to put a star on the Christmas tree.

[Alexandra]

Another review (mine ) of Alexei Ratmansky's "The Nutcracker," danced by ABT at the Kennedy Center.

http://www.danceview...nd-manners.html

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Perhaps the most magical thing about Alexei Ratmansky’s very magical “The Nutcracker,” which American Ballet Theatre has brought to D.C. for a long weekend’s worth of performances, is that it has been so refreshed and reimagined that it feels brand new. You never know what is going to happen next, and there were delighted laughs as well as happy gasps of surprise throughout the evening on opening night. There is plenty of comedy and charm in this production, but there is serious dancing, too, including two absolutely gorgeous pas de deux, and there isn’t a cliché in sight.

[Helene]

Rita Feliciano reviews San Francisco Ballet in "The Nutcracker" for danceviewtimes.

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On this year's opening night, the first act had a lovely ease and gentle humor about it. The gestural language, which at one point looked so painted on, is beginning to look ingrained and natural. Small details provided their own pleasure: Ricardo Bustamante's Dr. Stahlbaum, his chest swelling with love and pride when dancing with Clara, a charming prepubescent Nicole Finken; Anita Paciotti as the grand-mother, not dottering but just a little slower, yet still lovingly bossing husband (Jorge Esquivel) who looked like President Taft with a glass or two. Or one of the maids (Dores Andre) who partners grandpa's cane in a dance step or two of her own. Or how about the small detail of Drosselmeyer's (good mix of uncle and magician in Val Caniparoli) wearing white spats, his one acknowledgement to contemporary fashions. The color also, of course, nicely accentuates footwork, something the Bournonville slipper has done for over a hundred years.