Last night my sisters, niece, and I went to Washington Ballet’s The Nutcracker. The Nutcracker, a Russian ballet based on a German story adapted by Frenchman Alexandre Dumas, has become an American Christmas staple. In fact, Ovation TV hosts a Battle of the Nutcrackers, showing a different production of The Nutcracker on Sundays between Thanksgiving and Christmas. On Christmas day, Ovation will air a marathon of all the productions.
The Washington Ballet, under the direction of Septime Webre, features a version of the ballet that reflects American culture and history. Webre’s Nutcracker is set in an 1882 Georgetown mansion based on Dunbarton Oaks. Clara’s dream sequence is anachronistic, in Webre’s words, “transporting us from revolutionary America to 19th century carousels and steamships and 20th century cherry blossoms.”
The battle sequence in Clara’s dream is between the Redcoats (rats) and Revolutionary soldiers. The Nutcracker has George Washington’s head. During one part the dancers wear coonskin caps. Act 2 is set in the spring when the cherry blossoms bloom. There’s a Humpty Dumpty, a hot air balloon, and a drunken Scot.
I thought the strongest performance was the coffee dance, which became a duet between two Anacostia Indians. It was beautifully danced and was very sensuous. The male dancer at one point is lying on the stage holding the female dancer prone above him. He lifts her, then lowers her. Very sensuous–and requiring tremendous strength.
The child dancers were the real stars of the show, though. They were featured in almost every dance. They were adorable and charming, dressed as snow angels, mice, bees, clowns, even mushrooms. In light of recent events, it was poignant to see young children involved in a production of such beauty, having so much fun.
Here’s a taste of my evening:
What versions of the Nutcracker have you seen? Years ago I saw Barishnikov’s Nutcracker. In his version Clara and the Nutcracker dance the pas de deux of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier. It is all about a girl blossoming into womanhood and first love. Ah, the Romance!!
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Oh how I wish I could have seen this live! It looks like a stunning performance. I’ve seen a number of performances of The Nutcracker over the years. I think the first one was a performance of The Nutcracker on Ice in Wimbleton England when I was a child. It was the first time I’d see The Nutcracker and I have always remembered it as magical.
It was a smaller company than the ABT and we had fabulous seats, so the whole performance was more intimate than the ballets I’ve seen before. I thought it enhanced the Nutcracker. Even though I thought some of the “Americanisms” were silly (like the George Washington head), others were charming.
I enjoyed it so much!
I was very young when I saw The Nutcracker the first time. My sister and I were given tickets a couple of years in a row. I loved it. Several years past, without seeing it. Then my sister and I were given tickets once more. It wasn’t The Nutcracker I remembered. I was so disappointed, I never wanted to see it again. I didn’t know that the dance was dependent on the choreographer. I still love the music, and I’ve learned to appreciate other performances. However, I’ve never desired to see it live again.
Judy, I can understand how you wouldn’t want to spoil a perfect memory with one that felt inferior.
I did not have high hopes for this production, having seen Barishnikov, after all. But this one was pleasing in a different way.
Diane,
Thank you so much for sharing this with us. I have only ever seen the traditional version of the ballet. This one is fascinating. I wonder how long it has been performed in the DC area. We lived up there 20 years ago and I don’t ever remember seeing it advertised. i hope some other ballet company picks up this version and presents it in this area.
librarypat, I think I read that this ballet was first produced in 2006, but I can’t find where I read that now!
I can’t imagine the version being portrayed anywhere but in Washington, DC.