ADVERTISEMENT
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISEMENT & PAID CONTENT OPPORTUNITIES
SUBSCRIBE NOW
No Result
View All Result
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
The Ballet Herald®
  • HOME
  • BALLET MAGAZINE
    • Ballet Performance Reviews
    • Interviews with Ballet Professionals
    • The Latest Ballet News
    • Feature Ballet Stories
    • On This Day in Ballet History
    • Ballet Schools & Training
    • Opinions
  • BALLET PERFORMANCE CALENDAR
  • BALLET SHOWS IN…
    • Ballet Shows in London
    • Ballet Shows in New York City
    • Ballet Shows in Paris
    • Ballet Shows in Washington, D.C.
  • FAMOUS BALLETS
    • Cinderella
    • Coppélia
    • Don Quixote
    • Giselle
    • La Bayadère
    • La Sylphide
    • Romeo and Juliet
    • Swan Lake
    • The Nutcracker
    • The Sleeping Beauty
  • 2023 BALLET SUMMER INTENSIVE RESOURCES
    • 2023 Ballet Summer Intensive Programs
    • How to Successfully Prepare for Ballet Auditions
    • How to Organize Your Ballet Auditions
  • MORE
    • Ballet Books & Gifts
    • Dance Jobs
    • List of Ballet Companies
    • 2023-2024 Ballet Company Seasons
  • HOME
  • BALLET MAGAZINE
    • Ballet Performance Reviews
    • Interviews with Ballet Professionals
    • The Latest Ballet News
    • Feature Ballet Stories
    • On This Day in Ballet History
    • Ballet Schools & Training
    • Opinions
  • BALLET PERFORMANCE CALENDAR
  • BALLET SHOWS IN…
    • Ballet Shows in London
    • Ballet Shows in New York City
    • Ballet Shows in Paris
    • Ballet Shows in Washington, D.C.
  • FAMOUS BALLETS
    • Cinderella
    • Coppélia
    • Don Quixote
    • Giselle
    • La Bayadère
    • La Sylphide
    • Romeo and Juliet
    • Swan Lake
    • The Nutcracker
    • The Sleeping Beauty
  • 2023 BALLET SUMMER INTENSIVE RESOURCES
    • 2023 Ballet Summer Intensive Programs
    • How to Successfully Prepare for Ballet Auditions
    • How to Organize Your Ballet Auditions
  • MORE
    • Ballet Books & Gifts
    • Dance Jobs
    • List of Ballet Companies
    • 2023-2024 Ballet Company Seasons
No Result
View All Result
The Ballet Herald®
Home Ballet Magazine Ballet Performance Reviews

Ballet West Review: The Most Stunning Nutcracker of Them All

byCherilyn J. Lee
December 7, 2018
in Ballet Performance Reviews
Reading Time: 4 mins read
Ballet West Review - The Nutcracker 1218

Ballet West Review - The Nutcracker

Ballet West Review: The Nutcracker
December 6, 2018 | Kennedy Center – Washington, D.C.

The Nutcracker is a holiday classic that you can find in almost every American city – big or small – and this year our nation’s most prominent performing arts center The Kennedy Center presents Ballet West as their Christmas stars this season.

There is no doubt why Willam Christensen‘s version is the longest-running full-length production in America (since 1944!) as it is the most creative, intelligent, and magical production of The Nutcracker I have ever seen.

Mr. Christensen is a master storyteller. Although we are all familiar with the skeletal frame based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s tale that most ballet companies use to build upon, it is Ballet West‘s adaptation that makes the most sense. What can often seem illogical leaps – as dolls coming to life, giant mice battling toy soldiers, and being whisked away to lands reigned by Snow Queens and Sugarplum Fairies tend to be – are artfully tied together by seamless transitions; ones that don’t jarringly skip from one scene to another but rather maintain consistency in both voice and choreographic integrity.

Speaking of choreography, it is most impressive how Christensen manages to keep the stage in perpetual motion. This is not to imply that there is always physical movement, as the moments of pause and suspension are just as breathtaking as those composed of flurries of bourrées (which, by the way, all the company dancers and guest children must be applauded for).

There is truly a sense of art in motion as the ever-changing scenic compositions – whether for one dancer or sixteen – are aesthetically stunning and emotionally engaging, all while being technically challenging.

ADVERTISEMENT

All the second act divertissements are so unique conceptually and choreographically, so much so that even after over hundreds of combined personal performing, directing, and viewing experiences of The Nutcracker, it’s as if I had never seen it before.

This would be a good moment to give an important shout-out to costume designer David Heuvel and the entire scenic design, lighting, and production teams for it is their efforts that truly create the magic. From pre-curtain on, there is a never a dull moment; quite the contrary, there is a continuous pulse in the air as the audience is simultaneously appreciating what they see and anticipating what surprise is to come next.

Ballet West is a beautiful ballet company, one that Artistic Director Adam Sklute is surely proud of. The professional standouts of the evening are Sayaka  Ohtaki as the Doll, Arolyn Williams as Mirlitons, Beckanne Sisk as the Sugar Plum Fairy, and the corps de ballet as Snowflakes and Flowers.

All of these ladies perform with exceptional control of their technique, expression of their roles, and are simply a joy to watch – especially, the corps. Their glowing energy, precise musicality (in a series of emboîtés, one could hear in the audience the gloriously synchronous landings as their pointe shoes make contact with the floor), and impeccable execution of formations.

ADVERTISEMENT

But it isn’t just the professionals that make this version of The Nutcracker a must-see. Almost 100 DMV students play the children’s roles including the most coveted part of Clara. Of the over 200 students who auditioned to be a part of this production, Makenzie Hymes is one of two selected to play this lead role. Ms. Hymes is lovely, showing such promise as both a dancer and actress.

And Corbin Holloway is her perfect counterpart – he is fantastically mischievous as brother Fritz. Other local youth to note are the Arlington Children’s Chorus who accompany the magnificent Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra in the iconic snow scene.

So if you don’t have any weekend plans yet, go see Ballet West’s The Nutcracker at The Kennedy Center where there are matinee and evening performances on both Saturday and Sunday. If you do have plans already, consider changing them – these are two of the happiest hours you will spend this holiday season.

ADVERTISEMENT

Featured Photo for Ballet West Review: The Most Stunning Nutcracker of Them All of the company in Willam Christensen’s The Nutcracker © Luke Isley

Tags: Adam SkluteArolyn WilliamsBallet WestBeckanne SiskKennedy CenterSayaka OhtakiThe NutcrackerWashington D.C.Willam Christensen
Cherilyn J. Lee

Cherilyn J. Lee

Cherilyn's lifelong passion for ballet has opened the door to the next chapter of her journey. Her strong foundation includes training at the School of American Ballet, being a featured dancer with Hartford Ballet and Carolina Ballet, and being co-director/owner of City Ballet Raleigh. She was granted the Affiliate Teacher Award after successfully completing the ABT National Training Curriculum®. A professional career in the industry along with extensive global travel provide her with a unique set of experiences to draw upon as a journalist and audience member. Cherilyn is excited to be sharing her insight about ballet around the world.

Related Posts

Ballet West Les Noces Review
Ballet Performance Reviews

Ballet West Les Noces Review: Braids, Brides, & Bourées

April 3, 2023
Kennedy Center 2023-2024 Ballet Season
The Latest Ballet News

Kennedy Center 2023-2024 Ballet Season

March 9, 2023
Ballet West 2023-2024 Season
The Latest Ballet News

Ballet West 2023-2024 Season

March 2, 2023
American Ballet Theatre's Romeo and Juliet Review - 2023
Ballet Performance Reviews

American Ballet Theatre’s Romeo and Juliet Review: Elevating the Famous Love Story to a New High

February 19, 2023

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

The most interesting ballet news and stories of the week

Receive a roundup of news & upcoming performances direct to your inbox.

Order Now!

Mr. B


Being a Ballerina


Grand Jeté and Me

Popular Stories

Ballerina with Alzheimer’s: The Untold Story of Marta Cinta

Nutcracker Ballet Quiz: Test Your Knowledge!

The Professional Ballet Community Adapts in a Pandemic World

Ballet Books for Your Reading List

Gargouillade Gate: Everything You Need to Know About the American Ballet Theatre and Dutch National Ballet Feud

ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter Instagram RSS
No Result
View All Result

The most interesting ballet news and stories of the week

Receive a roundup of news & upcoming performances direct to your inbox.

The Ballet Herald

  • Privacy Policy

© 2023 The Ballet Herald™ by BalletNomad, LLC®

No Result
View All Result
  • ➩ Subscribe Now
  • Home
  • ☀️ 2023 Ballet Summer Intensives Resources
    • 2023 Ballet Summer Intensive Programs
    • How to Successfully Prepare for Ballet Auditions
    • How to Organize Your Ballet Auditions
  • Ballet Books & Gifts
  • Dance Jobs
  • Ballet Magazine
    • Ballet Performance Reviews
    • Interviews with Ballet Professionals
    • The Latest Ballet News
    • Feature Ballet Stories
    • On This Day in Ballet History
    • Ballet Schools & Training
    • Opinions
  • Ballet Performance Calendar
  • Ballet Shows In…
    • Ballet Shows in London
    • Ballet Shows in New York City
    • Ballet Shows in Paris
    • Ballet Shows in Washington, D.C.
  • Famous Ballets
    • Cinderella
    • Coppélia
    • Don Quixote
    • Giselle
    • La Bayadère
    • La Sylphide
    • Romeo and Juliet
    • The Nutcracker
    • Swan Lake
    • The Sleeping Beauty
  • Ballet Companies
  • 2023-2024 Ballet Company Seasons
  • ⊙ About
  • ⊙ Contact
  • ⊙ Advertisement & Paid Content Opportunities

© 2023 The Ballet Herald™ by BalletNomad, LLC®