Seven ways to catch 'The Nutcracker' in Connecticut this holiday season

For many, it’s not truly a joyous Christmas season without “The Nutcracker” involved. The iconic 1892 ballet has a beautiful, memorable score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky with legendary choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. The timeless story of a little girl with big dreams, “The Nutcracker” requires a huge cast of dancers and actors. In addition to the heroine Clara and her brave Nutcracker, memorable characters include the magician-like Uncle Drosselmeyer, the clownish Mother Ginger, tiny mice, the Snow King and Snow Queen, sailors, pirates, waltzing flowers, dancing snowflakes and many more. Thankfully, Connecticut dance groups offer plenty of chances for folks to check out “The Nutcracker” this holiday season, with both traditional and modern takes on the ballet. Nautical Nutcracker Eastern Connecticut Ballet gives its classic “Nutcracker” ballet a nautical twist for its 20th season, with a setting that celebrates southeastern Connecticut’s seafaring past. “Featuring sights such as tall ships in port, a sea captain’s Victorian home, lighthouses and other well-known landmarks, the spectacular scenery transforms the Garde Arts Center’s stage into a wintry day in New London during the 1850s,” said Julie Wright, a dance teacher at Eastern Connecticut Ballet. “One of the scenes even recreates the ice fields of the Arctic, where the city’s whale ships once ventured on harrowing voyages.” Directed by Gloria Govrin, this year guest artists include principal dancers from the renowned New York City Ballet. Returning to the Garde Arts stage will be NYCB’s Unity Phelan, Indiana Woodward, Jovani Furlan, and Anthony Huxley. The show runs Dec. 10 at 1:30 and 7 p.m. and Dec. 11 at 1:30 p.m. Tickets range from $29-$58. For more information, visit easternctballet.org. Guest dancers in New Haven Approximately 140 New Haven Ballet School students and performers ages 5 years to adult will perform in two casts with guest artists from New York City Ballet in four shows. “The children are magical,” said Lisa Kim Sanborn, artistic director and choreographer. “Nothing on television or at the movies entices or brings the joy of the holidays to life like attending New Haven Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker.’ Children and adults of all ages leave the theater dancing after enjoying the excitement and happiness provided by the music and dancers.” New York City Ballet’s Sara Adams and Harrison Coll star as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier while Alejandro Ulloa of East Coast Contemporary Ballet will reprise his role as the Snow King. New Haven Ballet performs “The Nutcracker'' at the Shubert Theatre Dec. 16 at 7 p.m., Dec. 17 at 1 and 5 p.m. and Dec. 18 at 1 p.m. Tickets start at $39. For more information, visit newhavenballet.org. Culturally inclusive changes While maintaining its traditional holiday feel, Woodbury Ballet sought new ways to make “The Nutcracker” a more culturally appropriate production. “In many productions, the Chinese tea dancers are portrayed by Caucasian performers dressed in stereotypical Chinese clothing, with some productions even appropriating stereotypes of Chinese eye shapes using makeup,” said Christine Harris, new artistic director of Woodbury Ballet. “This blatant use of yellowface—the practice of non-Asian people imitating Asian stereotypes—has been the subject of intense condemnation in the dance world, especially in the wake of renewed dialogues about the necessity of cultural sensitivity and inclusion in the arts.” Therefore, the dance company worked with Xi Wang, who teaches Yangko dance, a traditional Chinese folk dance performed in the Northeast provinces of China, on a new Tea dance for its performance. Celia Frissora is playing the Sugarplum Fairy, Bianca Taveira is Clara and guest artist, John Mihaliak takes on the role of the Cavalier, while Joseph Heitman plays The Nutcracker. The show will take place Dec. 17 at 5:30 p.m. and Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. at the Hoffman Auditorium, Bruyette Athenaeum at the University of Saint Joseph. Tickets range from $30-$45. For more information, visit woodburyballet.com. Sticking to the classics The Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance’s (RCD) take on the ballet, directed by Mary Beth Hansohn, is one of the only fully staged, professionally produced traditional “Nutcracker” productions set to the full Tchaikovsky score in the area. “This family-friendly performance is for all ages,” Hansohn said. “This is not excerpts or re-imaginings, but rather is the traditional fully-staged version of the beloved holiday classic.” Sugar Plum Fairy is danced by Serena Trickel, Snow Queen is shared by Ava Anderson and Hailey Brown, while Clara is shared by Josie Getchell and Caitlyn Powers. Adult guest artists include Henry Seth (Cavalier), Edgar Cortes (Drosselmeyer), RCD Board member Michele Gargan (Governess), First Selectman Rudy Marconi, RCD educational director Polly Kingsbury, Peter Getchell and RCD executive director Amy Piantaggini. The show runs at the Ridgefield Playhouse Dec. 9 at 6 p.m., Dec. 10 at 2 and 6 p.m. and Dec. 11 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets start at $20. For more information, visit ridgefieldplayhouse.org. Student led Nutcracker With six performances at the historic Warner Theatre in Torrington, the Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory presents more than 60 students in its “Nutcracker” show, directed by Victoria Mazzarelli. “Our performances are unique in that all dancing roles are performed by our students, talented young dancers from all over the country training for careers in professional dance,” said Adam Evertz, outreach and marketing coordinator for the conservatory. “Ours is one of the oldest continuously running Nutcracker performances in the state, a classic recently updated with new choreography and beautiful new sets by Roger LaVoie.” Thomas Evertz will be reprising his fan-favorite role as Dr. Drosselmeyer. The performances are Dec. 10 at 2 and 7 p.m., Dec. 11 at 2 p.m., Dec. 17 at 2 and 7 p.m. and Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $25. For more information, visit nutmegconservatory.org. Performing on a new stage The Connecticut Ballet’s annual production of “The Nutcracker” is a staple at the Stamford Palace and this year, for the first time, will also be staged at the Bushnell in Hartford. Guest stars from American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet will be joining in on the performance. Performances in Hartford are Dec. 10-11 at 1 and 5 p.m. Those in Stamford are Dec. 17 at 2 and 6 p.m. and Dec. 18 at 1 and 5 p.m. Tickets range from $50-$75. For more information, visit connecticutballet.org. Live music at The Nutcracker The New England Academy of Dance and New England Dance Theatre will present “The Nutcracker Ballet,” featuring live music by the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra. For 37 years, the New England Academy of Dance ballerinas have been performing in Fairfield County, and for the fifth year in a row, will be accompanied by professional dancers under the direction of Jonathan Yates. More than 280 young dancers from areas such as New Canaan, Darien, Wilton, Stamford and Norwalk will take part. “The Nutcracker is always the highlight of our year, it’s a truly magical time,” Ginna Ortiz, one of the company’s directors said. “We are incredibly excited to give our dancers and our audience the opportunity to hear and experience a live performance to this beautiful score.” The show will be performed at the New Canaan High School Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 10 at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. and Dec. 11 at 1 and 6 p.m. Tickets range from $35-$40. For more information, visit neadance.com.

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