By Caitlyn Walker
The City of Cleveland has found its Nutcracker niche with the Cleveland Ballet’s newly revamped production that features toy soldiers, dancing rats, and sparkling sugarplums. Timour Bourtasenkov, artistic director for the Cleveland Ballet has brought a fresh take on this holiday classic using fresh and engaging staging while maintaining the traditional elements of the production.
Maria Ambrosia, a student at the Academy of Cleveland Ballet, dances the role of Clara which draws the audience into the Stahlbum Christmas party. This well-designed party scene features lovely sets and costumes that flow smoothly from one dance to the next while cleverly using Russia’s most popular composer, Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky’s score to great advantage.
Children from the Academy of Cleveland Ballet are seen throughout the performance and featured most prominently in the first act. They offer up an engaging performance that brims with charm and professionalism.
The high point of Act I are the dancing dolls, played by Emmanuel Martirosyan, Breanna Justus, and Bruno Palheta Olivera with technical competence and presence. A comedic set of grandparents ensure that there is never a dull moment on the stage. All in all, the Party scene keeps the audience coming back for more.
After the Party ends, Clara shrinks to the size of her toy nutcracker, beautifully enabled by a growing set. The iconic battle scene which follows was executed nicely by the dancers, despite looking slightly sparse on the large stage. Bourtasenkov’s inclusion of a pet cat added an endearing touch. At the end of a stilted battle, Clara assists the Nutcracker in defeating the Mouse King and is released from his curse as the Nutcracker transforms him into a prince. Together, he and Clara travel together through a whirling snowstorm into the Land of Sweets.
Cleveland Ballet dancers truly shone in Act II. Heralded by a charming collection of dancing truffles, Clara and the Nutcracker are received by the Sugar Plum Fairy (played by Sydney Henson accompanied by Alexander Guzman as her Cavalier) into her kingdom.
Cheerful, colorful costumes embody the sugary fantasy land. Chocolate, Coffee, Tea, Candy Canes, Marzipan, and a darling set of gingerbread children dance for Clara as they welcome her to the Land of Sweets. And this land was sweet indeed.
The visually stunning sets and costumes make Act II as sumptuous as the treats represented, with each divertissement feeling like an updated take on the traditional versions we know and love. The dancers handle the difficult choreography well, from the gooey grace of Gabriela Checo partnered by Johan Mancebo as Coffee to the technical prowess of the Marzipan Trio. A bouquet of dancing flowers rounds out the divertissements.
Henson’s Sugar Plum was self-assured and elegant to close out the act. The story ended in the Balanchine tradition, with Clara remaining happy in the Land of Sweets.
Cleveland Ballet’s motto is “world class ballet for a world class city”, and while they aren’t quite to that benchmark, they’ve shown themselves capable of becoming that one day. The Company offers discounted student performance open to the public for each of their productions.
