Nutcracker (not so) suite 2009

Posted By myron on November 23, 2009

Time flies! Holiday time already.  Seems like a month ago that we were getting ready to open “The Little Matchgirl” at Christmas last year. I am so happy to be doing Nutcracker again….like hanging out with an old friend. That’s quite the statement considering this will be the 20th version for us. It certainly helps that we never do the same show from year to year to keep up our interest and excitement. This year is turning out to be an enormous amount of fun so far.  With everything that is going on in the world right now I decided to keep the show light-hearted, colorful, and fast-paced. It seems there are only about 12 different Christmas songs that you hear over and over again, well, I found some that will make you smile.  It’s amazing to me how this quirky take on the classic story can bring all of the same emotions that a more classical version does- maybe more (in my opinion). I was rehearsing the Barbie and Ken pas de deux the other day with Zhauna and Michael and they blew me away with how they become living dolls right before your eyes. The transformation is freaky and their 20 years of experience makes it something that I can’t imagine anyone else even attempting to do.  It really is fun to choreograph on them.   We are about half way through the show at this point and LOTS of work to do. Even though we have done 20 versions it still is one of the most complicated shows we do. Storytelling is a different challenge from unrelated dances choreographed for an evening. Challenging and rewarding in the end. For example, we have about 30 dances in the Nutcracker and each one has to move the story forward with lyrics, movement, costumes etc.  You should see my desk at this point in the process.  Piles of CDs, layers of papers and scripts, drawings, notes, costume sketches and books of inspiration; several versions of the original tale, picture books from New York City Ballet, The Kirov, The Royal Ballet so I can always remind myself what I am deconstructing and as a constant reminder of the beauty of this story, no matter how contemporary and kitchy I make it. I hope if you have seen our Nutcracker before that you will come again and see yet another adventure for Marie and her doll. And if you have never seen this show….get over here. Everything you have heard about the show it is true!  Now, I am off to choreograph Marie and her Ken doll to “There Can’t Be Anyone As Beautiful As Me,” then Rat Queen and Nephew to “You’ve Got Something I Want” by Blossom Dearie, then a Rat dance to some Missy Elliot, followed by Marie’s solo at the end of the show (can’t give that song away)….come and see.  More later…………………………………………..
XO,Myron