December 2, 2005

‘The Nutcracker’ sure to enchant audiences

Many Evergreen-based youth join the casts

Take a fantastic journey with a young girl, a magical nutcracker who comes to life and an evil Mouse King determined to engage in battle. Dancers from exotic countries, make-believe candy kingdoms and a winter snowfall are sure to mesmerize in local performances of “The Nutcracker” this month.

Karen Gabay as Maria delights in Herr Drosselmeyer’s (Dennis Nahat) masked puppet show that tells the story of the Nutcracker Prince and the Mouse King. From Act I, the party scene.

This holiday tradition, performed to the music of Peter Tchaikovsky, is a fabulous way to introduce children to classical music and dance.

San Jose Dance Theatre, Dec. 9-11
San Jose Dance Theatre, celebrating its 40th annual production of “The Nutcracker,” produced the city’s first complete version of “The Nutcracker” in 1966. It is the second longest running production in the Bay Area, and only San Francisco Ballet’s has a longer run. Artistic director Marcie Ryken-Achkire, who heads the Los Gatos Ballet, leads a production with students from 20 ballet schools.

Location: San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd.
Tickets: $16-$42; (408) 286-9905, www.ticketguys.com
Dates/Times: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10; and 1 p.m. Dec. 11
Other: Candy Magical Tea Party on Dec. 12, $10
Web Site: www.sjdt.org

Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley, Dec. 15-24
Dennis Nahat’s interpretation of “The Nutcracker,” closely follows the original story by E.T.A. Hoffmann. The ballet features 38 professional dancers plus students from the ballet’s school and children as part of the Mouse King’s army.

Dancers from the Chinese Performing Artists of America will also be featured when Maria and the Nutcracker Prince visit China. The production has dazzling sets and costumes and live music, with Dwight Oltman conducting the Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley Orchestra.

The theater itself is a wonderland of surprises, replete with lavish lobby decorations, a boutique of ballet and holiday treasures, choirs singing carols, the “Pocket Lady” passing out free toys, and characters from the show posing for complimentary souvenir photos with the children and their families.

Evergreen resident Lauren Talley will be performing as the Sugar Plum Fairy and an Arabian dancer in the SJDT performance of “The Nutcracker.” A 16-year-old student from Valley Christian, Talley has performed in this holiday classic, for various ballet companies, since she was 11 years old. This summer she returns on scholarship to the prestigious American Ballet Theatre in New York for the fifth year in a row as she continues to lay a solid foundation for a career as a professional dancer.

Location: San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd.
Tickets: $25-$74, (408) 288-2800, www.balletsj.org, www.ticketmaster.com
Dates/Times: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15-16; 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17-18; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20; 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21-23; and 1:30 p.m. Dec. 24
Web Site: www.balletsanjose.org


San Jose Youth Ballet, Dec. 17-18
San Jose Youth Ballet’s third annual production of ‘The Nutcracker’ offers a smaller, more intimate venue and the opportunity to see many of your Evergreen neighbors, since much of the cast is from the Evergreen-based Dance Theatre International.

Maggie and Xavier Ferla, co-directors of Dance Theatre International in Evergreen, along with Maria La Mance and Cristina McClelland, choreograph the production. Talented, local dancers ages 7-18 dance alongside top professional guest artists, Marco Gallerizzo, Lauren Main and Andrew Allagree.

Location: Mexican Heritage Theater, 1700 Alum Rock Ave.
Tickets: $12-$25, (408) 270-SJYB (7592)
Times/Dates: Dec. 17, 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., and Dec. 18, 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Other: Sugar Plum Party, held after every performance, to enjoy light refreshments on stage, mingle and take photos with members of the cast.
Web site: www.dtidance.com