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Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker

Monday, December 22

By Article written by Kindle, the East Tucson Macaroni Kid Mom December 19, 2014

The thrill of seeing professional dancers perform a classic ballet such as The Nutcracker is undeniable, and the professional dancers from the Moscow Ballet have been thrilling Tucson audiences with their rendition of the Great Russian Nutcracker for many years. However, many Tucsonans are not aware that there is a local twist to this famous Russian production.

I first saw the Great Russian Nutcracker last year, and I was in awe of the graceful and athletic dancing, the lavish sets, and beautiful costumes. There was another reason why this performance was my favorite rendition of The Nutcracker, though: My 7-year-old daughter was among the local children dancing in the production. While I must be honest that I found the scenes involving my little snowflake the most captivating, I found myself bursting with pride at the performances of all of the young Tucson dancers. I had watched these children rehearse for weeks, working hard to perfect their dances. However, because The Great Russian Nutcracker is a traveling production, there was no time for a full dress rehearsal once the company arrived in town. On the day of the performance, the dancers got their costumes fitted, photos taken, and had a brief run-through of their dances for the first and only time on the large stage. Knowing about this flurry of last-minute events made me truly appreciate how confidently the young dancers performed before the audience, and seeing the Tucson children dance so beautifully among the professionals was truly heartwarming.

My daughter is not performing in Monday night’s Great Russian Nutcracker, but 21 Tucson children from 10 different local dance studios will be on the Centennial Hall stage with the professional Russian dancers. Christy Smith, of Break Out Studios, coordinates the local Russian Nutcracker auditions and weekly rehearsals for local youth, and feels that dancing in a professional production of The Nutcracker is an unforgettable opportunity for any young dancer, “To be on stage in elaborate costumes, with hand painted sets, not only sharing a stage with, but dancing alongside of professional dancers is a fantastic experience,” she says.

This year, there is another young Tucson performer who will be featured alongside the Moscow Ballet company. Sixteen-year-old Ben Nead is a cellist who will accompany Moscow Ballet principal ballerina Alisa Voronova in a performance of Saint Saen’s “Dying Swan.” This performance, which will open for The Great Russian Nutcracker, is part of the Moscow Ballet’s “Musical Wunderkind” program, a cross discipline program that provides an unprecedented opportunity for aspiring musicians to perform live with award-winning and internationally touring ballerinas. Ben Nead is a sophomore at University High School and a member of several local youth orchestra groups.

The Great Russian Nutcracker really has everything: The spectacle and beauty of a great professional ballet, the nostalgia of a beloved holiday tradition, and inspiring performances by local youth that will be certain to fill the audience with hometown pride. Christy Smith acknowledges that for the young dancers, performance day will be a “whirlwind” that will, “test all dancers’ confidence and stamina, but at the end of the night…I will be standing center stage with my dancers with proud tears in my eyes as we take our final bow.” Having had my own child take that bow, I have proud tears just thinking about it.

If you go to see The Great Russian Nutcracker on Monday night, the awe inspiring performances of the Russian dancers and the production value of the whole show are certainly worth the price of admission. However, regardless of whether you know any of the young people performing, take a moment to appreciate their hard work and acknowledge the amazing experience they are having. You just may find tears in your eyes during the final bow, also.

 

WHAT: Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker
WHEN: Monday, December 22 at 7:30 PM
WHERE: Centennial Hall on the University of Arizona campus
TICKETS: Tickets start at $30. Visit Ticketmaster.com to purchase.