Friday, December 1

[dirac]

Pennsylvania Regional Ballet presents its Nutcracker.

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Shanna Geistwite, executive director of the Pennsylvania Regional Ballet said, “It’s important because a lot of times they don’t feel like they have the opportunity to come and see the arts, especially ballet, in person. So it’s really exciting for them to come and enjoy and enjoy The Nutcracker before Christmas.”

 

[dirac]

An interview with Colorado Ballet's Mother Ginger, Wyatt Mier.

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In the Land of the Sweets in the second act, Mother Ginger makes a larger-than-life appearance.

"In the beginning when she's coming in, she's just waving, and then she's like, 'Oh my God!' all these children are coming out," said Wyatt Mier who portrays the upper body of Mother Ginger.

The polichinelle children are not the only people hiding in Mother Ginger's skirts.

"My mobility people…one is right here," Mier says as he shows the spots in the giant hoop skirt were two people crouch to move the costume.

 

[dirac]

A review of the National Ballet of Canada by Denise Sum for danceviewtimes.com.

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“Emma Bovary” is the first ballet that the NBoC has commissioned from Pickett. She brought a team of past collaborators James Bonas (stage director) and Peter Salem (music), both who worked with her on “The Crucible” for the Scottish Ballet. Canadian set and costume designer Michael Gianfrancesco and lighting designer Bonnie Beecher round out the creative team. Changing the title from “Madame Bovary” to “Emma Bovary” says much about this production that centers around Emma’s internal world. The title identifies her as an individual, rather than a wife. Since Hope Muir assumed the role of NBoC artistic director in 2022, she has shown a commitment to creating space and opportunities for more female and BIPOC choreographic voices. This has been an important shift and the consistency with which it is applied ensures that new works like “Emma Bovary'' go beyond mere tokenism. The fact that this ballet presents the perspective of a real woman (rather than an ethereal creature) with human desires and flaws is a natural extension of this shift in programming.