Alberta Ballet - The Nutcracker

On the evening of 17 December 2011, I saw Alberta Ballet's The Nutcracker. This performance was the first time that I had seen this ballet.

The Nutcracker is a well known ballet to most everyone, and even if you have never seen this ballet, you have heard Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's music. It's beautiful and unforgetable.

Having recently completed Jennifer Homans's book Apollo's Angels: A History of Ballet, I had a stronger appreciation for the ballet. Of course, I enjoyed the wonderful dancing. The dancers, including all the children dancers, were great. Everyone seemed to have a lot of energy and enthusiasm. Even prior to the performance, I saw some of the young dancers in the lobby area excited to be performing that evening.

Knowing some of the ballet's history, I found myself traveling back in time as I watched the ballet. I enjoyed how Alberta Ballet created scenes from Russia near the 1900s. Even the wheelchair had an authentic look.

The Nutcracker has become a holiday staple. If you have never seen it, I encourage you to see it next year.

On the evening of the 17th, the following artists were featured:

• Klara: Asaka Homma
• Drosselmeyer: Kelley McKinlay
• Karl/Nutcracker: Anthony Pina
• Father: Kelly McKinlay
• Mother: Melissa Boniface
• Nikolai: Yukichi Hattori
• Babushka: Beverly Bagg
• Grandfather: Blair Puente
• Hussar Doll: Davidson Jaconello
• Ballerina Doll: Alison Dubsky
• Rat Doll: Garret Groat
• Males Guests, Female Guests, Calvalry & Wolves: Artists of the Alberta Ballet and Students of the Alberta Ballet
• Rat Tsar: Garret Groat
• Snow Tsarina: Alison Dubsky
• Snowflakes: Artists of the Alberta Ballet and Students of the Alberta Ballet
• Spanish: Hayna Gutierrez
• Arabian: Emily Collier, Davidson Jaconello & Andrea Battaggia
• Chinese: Nicole Caron & Peter Starr
• Russian: Mark Wax & David Neal
• Flowers & Flower Cavaliers: Artists of the Alberta Ballet and Students of the Alberta Ballet
• Sugar Plum Fairy: Tara Williamson
• Her Cavalier: Jaciel Gomez

There were numerous children cast as Party Girls, Party Boys, Little Mice, Cossack Rats, Soldiers, Palace Page Girls, and Palace Page Boys.

I hope everyone had a great holiday period. And I wish everyone a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year 2012!