Countdown to Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Nutcracker
Snowflake dancers from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company. Vince Pahkala photo.
In the end, it’s all about the tutus.
Truth be told, that’s why I go to a the Nutcracker in Vancouver every year. Sure, some people say it’s for kids, but if there’s a more beautiful ballet out there, I don’t know about it.
The little girl in me still loves to admire those gorgeous tulle dresses, and when the Sugar Plum Fairy tiptoes on-stage, I inevitably decide that I’m going to become a ballerina when I grow up. It’s never too late to start over, right?
The Nutcracker at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre tells the same timeless story every year, but it’s interpreted in a slightly different way depending on the troupe. This year, Ballet BC presents performances by Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet–one of the most celebrated companies in the country–from December 12 to 14.
I’m excited to see what this version will bring. Of course, there will be tutus. But also, apparently, some uniquely Canadian touches.
Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company. Vince Pahkala photo.
I won’t go into the storyline–if you’re a fan, you already know it by heart. But according to Ballet BC, somewhere within the story audiences can expect a snowy pond-hockey game and a set that features the Canadian Parliament buildings and Mounties.
Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company. Vince Pahkala photo.
The production has also cast over 70 aspiring young dancers from close to 20 dance schools across Metro Vancouver. It’s nice to see the young performers on-stage, and equally so to see young audience members decked out in their holiday finest at intermission.
The Nutcracker gives everybody a chance to dress up and dream a little.
Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company. Vince Pahkala photo.
Of course, I shouldn’t overlook the talented men in the production. And, the ballet’s music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky always fills me with joy from the moment the curtain rises. (There is no live orchestra with the performances this year, however.)
My favourite scene by far is Dance of the Snowflakes, because the ethereal music perfectly matches the graceful, white-clad dancers. With apologies to the men, did I mention that the Nutcracker is all about the dresses?
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Nutcracker plays at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre at 7:30 p.m. from December 12 to 14, with 2 p.m. matinees on December 13 and 14. Tickets range from $35 to $98.50, and family packs (2 adults, 2 children) range from $229 to $300, including service charges.
Do you love the Nutcracker too? Leave a comment below and tell us why.
Article source: http://www.insidevancouver.ca/2014/12/06/countdown-to-royal-winnipeg-ballets-nutcracker/
