Photo credit: Reed Hutchinson for Los Angeles Ballet.
To say that 2020 is an unprecedented year would be an understatement, but ballet companies always rule with the old entertainment adage that "the show must go on." And that's exactly what is happening for several Los Angeles ballet companies and dance studios this holiday season. They have found a way to make the traditional "Nutcracker" season happen in the most unconventional ways.
In a normal year, "The Nutcracker" performances often serve as the major operating budget fundraiser for the rest of the season. Producing "The Nutcracker" at the holidays allows a ballet company to do "Swan Lake" in the spring or even bring in major choreographers to mount new works. In a pandemic year, the money brought in from the reimagined "Nutcracker" is keeping the studio doors open and allowing students and dance professionals to continue pursuing the art form they love so much. The financial support brought in this year helps keeps the arts alive.
If you're looking for a way to be an arts hero, News Break has compiled a list of 2020 "Nutcrackers" in the Southern California area to enjoy from the comfort of your own home.
Westside Ballet of Santa Monica:
Southern California's longest-running "Nutcracker" production is continuing with its 48th magical holiday season — just in a different way than usual. Westside Ballet normally performs at Broad Stage in Santa Monica, this year they are presenting a black-box stage version of "Nutcracker" from their dress rehearsals. Their original plans to film their six high school seniors, including Zane Tahvildaran Jesswein, Stella Grynberg and Maya Zeevi, to perform the coveted principal "Nutcracker" roles on the Broad Stage was canceled after California saw a December spike in COVID-19 cases. But the setback didn't stop them from moving forward with modified plans.
“One thing is certain: dancers will always find a way to dance. A dancer’s passion for their craft continues to grow and adapt in the face of any adversity,” states Westside’s Artistic Director Martine Harley. ”This has truly been an extraordinary time, but you cannot quarantine a soul. Our advanced dancers have continued expressing themselves physically and emotionally through their music and movement."
Harley admitted that "they've all been challenged throughout 2020" but they wanted to "find a way to continue to share the beauty and joy of dance –– and also to provide our graduating high school seniors an opportunity to perform their dream roles."
Event dates: Friday, Dec. 18 through Thursday, Dec. 31.
For more information: https://westsideballet.com
DC Dance Center:
Photo credit: DC Dance Center.
DC Dance Center is currently in its 25th year, but they've never seen anything like what 2020 has delivered to the West Los Angeles studio. Owner Diane Collins decided to virtually recreate her annual "Nutcracker — Land of Sweets" show six weeks ago, which meant pulling costumes and props from the studio's inventory to save money. They even got creative with their filming locations to keep the dancers in their respective COVID-safe pods.
"[We built] outside holiday stages using locations in our own back parking lot in West Los Angeles and a neighboring church parking lot," says Collins. "I rented a huge warehouse to film larger groups for extra safety precautions."
The studio, which hasn't been able to operate at full capacity since March 14, is persevering through what has been a tough year for so many. "It's been a rough ride financially and emotionally for so many small businesses," Collins shares while crediting her talented staff of teachers for helping survive the last nine months, "This year we have reimagined our annual winter 'Nutcracker.' We hope this tradition will bring a bit of joy and normalcy to the lives of our dance families and community."
Event date: The week of Dec. 21.
For more information: https://www.dancecenterla.com/shop
ARC Entertainment Company:
ARC Entertainment Company, featuring dancers Kirsten Bloom Allen, Magnus Christoffersen and Tigran Sargsyan, have been thinking outside the box the entire pandemic. They quarantined together and transformed Allen's backyard into a stage for new works and thrice-weekly performances. For the holiday season, they are doing a "Backyard Ballet Holiday Celebration," hosted by Joey Fatone, and featuring excerpts from "The Nutcracker," two ballet world premieres and the award-winning short film, "COVID Rockin." The company is known for merging different forms of media and the arts together, so expect a blend of ballet, rock music, art and cinema from their presentation.
Event dates: Two shows daily from Dec. 23-27 at 11:00 a.m. PT and 6:00 p.m. PT
For more information: https://vod.screenz.live/BackyardBallet/
"The Hip-Hop Nutcracker":
Photo credit: Tim Norris.
Choreographer Jennifer Weber, known for her work on Disney Channel's "Zombies 2," is mounting her annual "The Hip-Hop Nutcracker" virtually as well this year. The tour usually stops throughout the Southland to deliver MC Kurtis Blow and DJ Boo kicking off a performance with a cast of 15 dancers showcasing the family favorite in a contemporary way.
The story is centered around a holiday party in New York City, where Maria-Clara's parents are fighting. Drosselmeyer casts a spell and sends her and The Nutcracker on a magical journey back to the 1980s to the Brooklyn nightclub on New Year’s Eve where her parents first met.
In 2018, she told Dance Dish Media that she hoped to bring "The Hip-Hop Nutcracker to the big screen, "I really feel like this could be a film. That's my goal. It's totally unique." This year she's able to deliver on that goal and bring the magic of her interpretation to families around the country.
Event dates: Streaming now through Sunday, Jan. 3 at 4 p.m PT.
For more information: https://www.stellartickets.com/events/hip-hop-nutcracker-tour/the-hip-hop-nutcracker
Los Angeles Ballet:
Photo credit: Los Angeles Ballet.
The Los Angeles Ballet normally tours around the Southern California region to bring their production of "The Nutcracker" to as many audiences as possible. This year, they are taking their annual "Clara's Nutcracker Tea Party" virtual — Clara hosts the party and invites viewers into her home for a Nutcracker Tea party with friends Marie, Columbine, Nutcracker and Snow. The afternoon will be filled with interactive play, dancing, magic, music, crafts and holiday fun. Tickets can be purchased to view the party only or you can also enjoy some of the delicious treats normally served at the in-person event.
Event date: December 20th, 2020 at 11:00 a.m.
For more information: https://losangelesballet.org/event-nutcracker-tea-2020
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