The magic of the season twirled, leapt and bounded into downtown Little Rock on twinkle toes in a lush and dreamy production of of Ballet Arkansas' The Nutcracker amid the backdrop of a gleaming-new, state-of-the-art renovated Robinson Center Performance Hall. More than 100 youngsters from more than 60 schools took part in the state's largest production of The Nutcracker.
The performance, featuring Tchaikovsky's classic score, is a Little Rock holiday tradition spanning decades. This year's full production by the professional ballet company was a homecoming for the annual holiday fairy tale classical ballet accompanied by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra following a two-year absence, when the production temporarily relocated to the Maumelle Performing Arts Center during the Robinson Center's renovation.
Its 200-plus cast includes 200 community members joining a dozen professional company dancers (more than in the past), an apprentice, and eight pre-professional temporary company dancers.
The role of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier is being danced alternately by Ballet Arkansas veterans Amanda Sewell and Paul Tillman, Megan Hustel and newcomer Zeek Wright. The Nutcracker Prince is being performed by Toby Lewellen and Paul Tillman, and the Dew Drop Fairy is being danced by Megan Hustel and Little Rock native Meredith Short Loy. The role of Clara was danced by Geneva Millikan on Friday and she will dance again on Sunday. Izzi Rhodes will perform it today.
The story begins with a Christmas party at the Stahlbaum home, which takes a turn toward the fantastic when wizard-toymaker Uncle Drosselmeyer brings three life-size, dancing dolls and a present for Clara -- a magical nutcracker that turns into a handsome prince who defends her from the Mouse King and his army of rodents. He then leads her through the snow kingdom into the second-act Land of the Sweets, where she's entertained by those there -- Spanish, Arabian, Russian and Chinese dancers; French shepherdesses; Mother Ginger and her 12 bon-bon children; the Dew Drop Fairy and her retinue of flowers; and finally the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier.
The music for Ballet Arkansas' The Nutcracker was composed by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky and is led by the symphony's associate conductor Geoffery Robson. New this year to local audiences is a reworking of the Waltz of the Flowers scene in Act II by Laura Hood Babcock, Ballet Arkansas' artistic associate and director of production during which more seasoned dancers than previously offer more difficult choreography of higher jumps and multiple spins.
Prior to the Robinson Center's renovation, the orchestra had been using David Itkin's reduced score for a pit orchestra of 33. But since the move to Maumelle, it has switched to Joseph Ceo's arrangement of the Tchaikovsky for 39 members, which was used again this year.
The Nutcracker continues with matinee shows at 2 p.m. today and Sunday. For tickets, ranging from $25-$70, visit arkansassymphony.org or call (501) 666-1761.
Metro on 12/10/2016