Created from a Russian fairy tale and set to music by Tchaikovsky in the early 1890’s, the indispensable Christmas classic, The Nutcracker, wasn’t performed in the United States until 1944. Today, many consider it as much a part of the holiday season as a Christmas tree. Despite its unflagging popularity, the innocence and purity of romance the ballet embodies is not familiar to everyone. A + A Ballet’s appealing and refined production at the Studebaker Theater over the weekend counts as one of the most endearing introductions to this classic as you’re likely to find. For those who’ve seen this holiday staple performed countless times, the A + A performance was so suffuse with youth and impressive dance talent that it would win over even the most critical eye.
Products of the Bolshoi, where elegance and technical perfection remain paramount, both A + A Ballet’s President and Director, Alexei Kremnev and Anna Reznik, bring that indefinable something that permeates Russian ballet to the company’s The Art Deco Nutcracker. Kremnev arranged the choreography and must be commended not only for the purity and simplicity that saturated the production but also for injecting just enough dramatic interest to not only enliven but also excite.
Characterized by restrained beauty, the evening’s visuals glowed with an ethereal quality that’s so well suited to fantasy. Enhanced by choreography that accentuated the softness of illusion and mounted on a stage that evoked a bygone past, the ballet took on a life of its own and seemed to make time disappear.
Seeing so many young dancers ply their natural gifts and dance training so beautifully and confidently made the two-hour performance whiz by and kept the sense of anticipation pleasingly high. Invariably that anticipation would be rewarded with one treat after another. Both Grace Curry as Clara and Katherine Williams as Sugar Plum were ideal in their dance sequences and wonderfully matched with their respective dance partners, Michael Sayre and Jose Sebastian. Jasmine Wheeler’s Arabian solo in the second act deserves special mention as well for its flawless poetry of movement.
In a contained performance like The Art Deco Nutcracker, care must necessarily be taken in what to highlight. Here costumes were placed at the forefront projecting all that is lush and extravagant. As the show’s wardrobe director and costume designer, Laura Skarich applied a cleverly sophisticated touch to the entire performance; ever mindful of bringing aesthetic pleasure to young and old alike. From William’s stunning lamé body suit in the Arabian segment to the impishly upswept white wigs children wore during the finale and the many impactful flourishes she scattered throughout the production, it was clear a very talented hand was at work.
Missteps were few and kept the performance gently tethered to the imperfections of real life.
The Art Deco Nutcracker
Nov 30 – Dec 2, 2018
The Studebaker Theater
401 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60605
aacenterfordance.org
312-545-2142
