Lifestyle

How suburban dance companies keep 'The Nutcracker' fresh

Posted November 12, 2018 10:00 pm

Susan Klovstad

The Schaumburg Dance Ensemble will perform "The Nutcracker" at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg. Performances are Nov. 30 through Dec. 9. Courtesy of Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts

How do you keep a beloved holiday tradition familiar, yet fresh?

For directors of suburban productions of "The Nutcracker" ballet, among the many challenges is keeping it engaging from year to year, without altering the basic plot. They accomplish this in varying ways.

"Over the years we've changed it quite a bit," said Michele Leslie Holzman, who has directed both the Northwest Ballet Academy and the Schaumburg Dance Ensemble's "The Nutcracker" for the past 25 years. "We have a storyteller who summarizes the first and second act. It's supposed to be (the character of) Clara, all grown up."

The narration, Holzman says, is helpful for children and novices, or those who haven't been to the ballet.

"People still say to me, 'How's your play going?'" Holzman said. "They don't realize in a ballet; people don't generally speak."

It also helps, Holzman said, that the performance venue, the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts, is more intimate than most. At 440 seats, it allows viewers to see the detail of the costumes and sets.

The Schaumburg Dance Ensemble will perform "The Nutcracker" at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg. Courtesy of Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts

Linda Cunningham, director of Chicago Ballet Conservatory's production of "The Nutcracker," has her own approach to the show summarized by three words: Bigger, better, bolder.

"Every show has to be better than the one before, or I'm not doing my job," said Cunningham, who directed productions of "The Nutcracker" for the former State Street Dance Studio of Geneva for many years. "When Tressa Mohler (of Mohler Dance Academy in Bloomingdale, creator of Chicago Ballet Conservatory) approached me to direct, I said, 'If you want to go big, you've got the right girl.'" CBC's show will be staged at the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin.

Theatrical tricks, vivid costumes and sets and an upbeat tempo along with luminaries on stage will keep audiences engaged, Cunningham promises. Professional guest artists in Chicago Ballet Conservatory's production include Alexandre Hammoudi, a soloist with the American Ballet Theatre; Abigail Simon, formerly with ABT and the Joffrey Ballet; Roger Hendricks Simon, veteran actor and director of stage and screen, and Raoni Xavier of Bolshoi Brazil.

"These guest artists are 'in the pocket' professionals," she said - dancers and actors who currently make a living performing.

What also sets her show apart, Cunningham says, is the dancers will perform to a live orchestra instead of recorded music. The Elgin Symphony Orchestra, which is based at the Hemmens, will perform Tchaikovsky's famous score under the direction of Stephen Squires.

Both Holzman and Cunningham say directing "The Nutcracker" is time-consuming and filled with challenges.

Fitting the costumes, scheduling the rehearsals, and managing 100-plus performers is a complex task, Holzman said, and costly as well.

The Chicago Ballet Conservatory will stage "The Nutcracker" Dec. 1-2 at the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin. Courtesy of Chicago Ballet Conservatory

"A pair of pointe shoes can run $100 apiece," Holzman said. "A platter tutu can cost $700 to $1,000."

"I like to call it the 'Nutty-cracker,'" said Cunningham, whose show features performers age 6 through 75. "We've been rehearsing since August; there are so many elements."

It's all worth it, though, Cunningham said, to create that feeling of holiday magic for the audience.

"I want everyone to walk away feeling joyful," she said. "Like they've been dreaming in color."

Suburban productions of 'The Nutcracker'

• Salt Creek Ballet's "The Nutcracker": 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 24-25, at Hinsdale Central Auditorium, 5500 S. Grant St., Hinsdale; 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8 at Center for the Performing Arts, Governors State University, 1 University Parkway, University Park; 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15-16, at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. Westmont-based Salt Creek Ballet production features internationally recognized guest dancers and a cast of 100 students, ages 8-17. Artistically directed by Sergey Kozadayev who trained at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia. $18-$48. saltcreekballet.org/nutcracker-2018/

• Fox Valley Ballet's "The Nutcracker": 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre, 1201 Main St. Showcases students from local dance studios and professional dancers, featuring lavish sets, festive costumes, and Tchaikovsky's score. $29-$42; $24-$36 for children, age 10 or younger. VIP seats, including photos with the characters after the show, $45-$47. foxvalleynutcracker.com.

Snowflakes dance up a storm in Moscow Ballet's "Great Russian Nutcracker" at the Rosemont Theatre. Courtesy of Moscow Ballet

• Barrington Dance Ensemble's "The Nutcracker": 7 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30-Dec. 2, Barrington High School, 616 W. Main St., Barrington. Barrington Dance Ensemble's annual production features professional and local dancers and students. $15-$30. (847) 382-6333 or barringtondance.org.

• Schaumburg Dance Ensemble's "The Nutcracker": 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 7; 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 1, 2 and 9; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8; Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court. Vibrantly costumed and staged production features professional dancers and a cost of more than 100 area student and adult performers. $28; $18 seniors and students. www.villageofschaumburg.com/depts/cultural/pca/tickets/the_nutcracker.htm

• Chicago Ballet Conservatory's "The Nutcracker": 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, at Hemmens, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. Chicago Ballet Conservatory with Elgin Symphony Orchestra puts on holiday classic with Raoni Xavier of the Bolshoi Brazel; Alexandre Hammoudi, a soloist with ABT; Abigail Simon of ABT and Joffrey Ballet; and veteran actor Roger Hendricks Simon. Directed by Linda Cunningham. $25-$50. www.CBCnutcracker.com or (630) 893-1444.

• "Clara's Dream": 2 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1; and 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, at Gorton Community Center, 400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest. LoMastro Performing Arts Academy's production of "The Nutcracker: Clara's Dream" is a one-act version of the ballet which takes place in the dreams of Clara in the Kingdom of the Sweets. This abridged version of the classic tale is performed by dancers ages 6-18 alongside professional dancers in principal roles. $20. www.brownpapertickets.com.

• "Great Russian Nutcracker": 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. Moscow Ballet's touring production features Russian artists, exclusive "Dove of Peace" role, hand-painted sets, Russian snow maidens, and jubilant nesting dolls. $28-$89. (800) 745-3000 or www.nutcracker.com

• "The Nutcracker" at Woodstock Opera House: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7 and 14; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8 and 15; 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9 and 16, Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St., Woodstock. Judith Svalander Dance Theatre production. $16-$26. (815) 338-5300; www.woodstockoperahouse.com.

• "The Magic of the Nutcracker": 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8 at Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan; and 10:30 a.m. (abbreviated show) Saturday, Dec. 15 and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 15-16, at Libertyville High School, 708 W. Park Ave., Libertyville. Dancenter North's 30th anniversary production of the holiday classic features more than 100 performers, including internationally renowned guest artists. $12-$36. www.dancenter-north.com/magic-nutcracker

The Berkshire Ballet Theatre will perform "The Nutcracker" Dec. 15-16 at the Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake. Daily Herald File Photo

• Von Heidecke Chicago Festival Ballet's "The Nutcracker": 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, Belushi Performance Hall, McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn. The holiday classic returns with accompaniment from New Philharmonic orchestra, a rare opportunity to see the ballet set to live music. Full-scale production with guest artists and dazzling costumes. $44, $42 for age 60 or older, $34 for 17 or younger. www.atthemac.org.

• Berkshire Ballet's "The Nutcracker": 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, and 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16; at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. Annual performance by Berkshire Ballet Theatre and students from Summers Academy of Dance. Tickets start at $28. (815) 356-9212 or www.rauecenter.org.

• "The Nutcracker" at ECC: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, at Elgin Community College Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive. Wheaton's Alma Dance School performances. $20-$35. tickets.elgin.edu or (847) 622-0300.

• "The Nutcracker" in Lake Zurich: 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20-23; at Lake Zurich Performing Arts Center, 300 Church St. Illinois Youth Dance Theatre's 19th annual production. $12-$27. www.iydt.org/

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