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‘Nutcracker’ nirvana: A show for every taste

Fans of the classic Christmas-season ballet have plenty of opportunities to see performances by a variety of dance companies, including several in Clark County and featuring local students

By Susan Parrish, Columbian Education Reporter
Published: November 30, 2014, 12:00am
11 Photos
Aerial silks soloist Kady Lawson, 17, and Arabian dancers Sydney Reed, 14, background right, and Madison Reznicki, 11, practice &quot;The Nutcracker&quot; at DanceWorks Studio on Nov. 17. DanceWorks and Vancouver City Ballet present &quot;The Nutcracker&quot; Dec.
Aerial silks soloist Kady Lawson, 17, and Arabian dancers Sydney Reed, 14, background right, and Madison Reznicki, 11, practice "The Nutcracker" at DanceWorks Studio on Nov. 17. DanceWorks and Vancouver City Ballet present "The Nutcracker" Dec. 12-14 at Prairie High School. Photo Gallery

• In 1891, the Russian Imperial Ballet commissioned P.I. Tchaikovsky to write the musical score.

• The ballet debuted Dec. 18, 1892, at the Maryinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, with Czar Alexander III in attendance.

• The first American production, by the San Francisco Ballet, debuted on Dec. 24, 1944.

• From 1913-1921, George Balanchine studied at the Imperial Ballet School in St. Petersburg and danced the role of the Nutcracker Prince.

• In 1948, Balanchine founded the New York City Ballet. He debuted his own “Nutcracker” on Feb. 2, 1954.

• Today, 123 years after Tchaikovsky first composed his music, “The Nutcracker” is a timeless holiday tradition for many families.

It’s Nutcracker season. Around Clark County, hundreds of young ballet dancers wearing tights and frothy tulle tutus are working long hours in dance studios perfecting leaps and arabesques to bring “The Nutcracker” to life.

This holiday season, six productions — five of them traditional “Nutcracker” ballets — feature Clark County students dancing roles from the youngest little angels to complex principal roles that require young women to dance on their toes and young men to lift their partners over their heads, all while smiling and making it look effortless.

For dance enthusiasts who are nuts about “The Nutcracker,” it’s possible to attend a show every weekend in December. In all, there are 22 “Nutcracker” shows in Clark County and 17 shows presented in Portland by professional dance company Oregon Ballet Theater. That’s 39 “Nutcracker” shows to immerse yourself in the story of the girl Marie (in some productions, she is Clara), her godfather Drosselmeyer’s gift to her of a nutcracker and her fanciful dream about the nutcracker coming to life as the Nutcracker Prince and journeying with her to the Kingdom of Sweets.

Vancouver Dance Theatre’s “Nutcracker” is the oldest in Clark County, dating back to 1976. The performance has such a long history that its artistic director, Christina Wilder, danced in the production as a child. The nonprofit organization welcomes dancers of all ages and abilities, said Ursula Transom, spokeswoman.

Each year, every dance studio adds new costumes and twists to keep the performance fresh. This year, “The Nutcracker” presented by DanceWorks and Vancouver City Ballet added an aerial silk artist during its Arabian dance. Aerial silk artists climb, twist, spin and seem to free fall while holding onto sheets hung from the ceiling.

Suspended in the air

At the DanceWorks studio in Orchards, the Arabian dance music from “The Nutcracker” begins, and Kady Lawson steps forward and grasps two long sheets of fabric suspended from the ceiling. With grace and strength, she begins climbing, wrapping her legs around the fabric as she moves upward. Suspended in the air, she dances.

Lawson, 17, has been dancing since she was 3. When DanceWorks teacher Evan Plevinski offered a class in aerial silks, Lawson wanted to try it. Although years of dance have developed Lawson’s strong legs and core muscles, she didn’t have the upper-body strength required.

“When I first tried it, I couldn’t do it,” Lawson said.

In addition to dancing daily at the studio, she spends four hours a week in aerial silk classes. Determined to master the aerial maneuvers, she added an arm-strengthening regimen and started coming to the studio for an extra aerial practice once each week after her classes at Union High School. Her hard work paid off.

“It’s dancing, but you have this feeling you’re flying too,” said Lawson.

As she maneuvers into various positions in the air, she wraps the silks around her ankles, waist or thighs, depending on what move follows.

“It’s knot tying,” she explained. “There’s nothing holding you but yourself and the silks.”

While Lawson is performing in the air, eight or nine students will be dancing on the floor during the Arabian performances.

“You have to be careful to not be in Kady’s way,” said Madison Reznicka, 11, who danced on the floor while Lawson was suspended from the ceiling. “No crashes yet.”

Plevinski, the aerial silks teacher who also teaches ballet, jazz, tap and acrobatics at DanceWorks, has been teaching the aerial class for two years. When he needed to strengthen his shoulder muscles after an injury, he took an aerial silks class taught by a Portland studio. Soon after that, he started teaching aerial silks at DanceWorks.

Plevinski teaches about 20 students, including Lawson, in his aerial silks class. Lawson is the strongest of the aerial silk artists, Plevinski said, and will be the lone dancer suspended from the ceiling during this year’s “Nutcracker.” But more aerial silks students will be ready to perform in the studio’s spring ballet and in next year’s “Nutcracker.”

“Everything you do in the silks, although it looks soft and fluffy, it’s painful,” said Plevinski. “But when it feels like you’re flying — like Kady said — it’s worth it.”

In addition to performing the aerial silks in the Arabian dance, Lawson also dances in the flower corps, the snow corps and in the Spanish number. The high school junior is unsure of her career path, but she is certain about one thing.

“I know I want to continue dancing,” Lawson said.

Clark County performances

Vancouver Dance Theatre presents “The Nutcracker”

Details: The oldest “Nutcracker” in Clark County, nonprofit Vancouver Dance Theater produced its first “Nutcracker” in 1976. It returns with its annual holiday tradition of brave toys and wondrous lands of treats. The nonprofit organization welcomes dancers of all ages and abilities. Dancers pay a nominal production fee to participate.

Artistic director: Christina Wilder, who danced in Vancouver Dance Theatre’s “Nutcracker” as a child.

When: 7 p.m. Dec. 5; 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 6; 2 p.m. Dec. 7.

Where: Fort Vancouver High School Theater, 5700 E. 18th St., Vancouver.

Tickets: $13, free for ages 2 and younger if sitting on adult’s lap. Purchase tickets at Beacock Music, 1420 S.E. 163rd Ave., Music World, 7916 N.E. Sixth Ave., or at the door one hour before performance.

Contact: 360-601-1770 or www.vancouverdancetheatre.com

Northwest Classical Ballet presents “The Nutcracker”

Details: This production features original choreography, guest artists and Northwest Classical Ballet company dancers.

Artistic director: Maricar Drilon.

When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 and 12; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 and 2 p.m. Dec. 14.

Where: Fort Vancouver High School, 5700 E. 18th St., Vancouver.

Tickets: $15; purchase online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/899859; at the studio, 14511 N.E. 10th Ave., Suite D; or at Aurora Gallery, 1004 Main St.

&#8226; In 1891, the Russian Imperial Ballet commissioned P.I. Tchaikovsky to write the musical score.

&#8226; The ballet debuted Dec. 18, 1892, at the Maryinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, with Czar Alexander III in attendance.

&#8226; The first American production, by the San Francisco Ballet, debuted on Dec. 24, 1944.

&#8226; From 1913-1921, George Balanchine studied at the Imperial Ballet School in St. Petersburg and danced the role of the Nutcracker Prince.

&#8226; In 1948, Balanchine founded the New York City Ballet. He debuted his own "Nutcracker" on Feb. 2, 1954.

&#8226; Today, 123 years after Tchaikovsky first composed his music, "The Nutcracker" is a timeless holiday tradition for many families.

Contact: 888-487-7454 or www.northwestclassicalballet.com

“The Nutcracker” presented by DanceWorks and Vancouver City Ballet

Details: The classic ballet of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince features a cast of 75 students ages 5-18 and 13 adults. This year’s production features a new twist: aerial silks. During the show’s Arabian scene, a dancer wrapped in silk fabric suspended above the stage will showcase her athleticism, and acrobatics will be part of several scenes. The studio is in the process of applying for nonprofit status.

Artistic director: Karen Cannon.

When: 6 p.m. Dec. 12; 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 13; 2 p.m. Dec. 14.

Where: Prairie High School, 11500 N.E. 117th Ave., Brush Prairie.

Advance tickets: $12, $10 for seniors, $8 for children, free for ages 5 and younger. At the door, $15, $10 for children 6-12, $10 seniors. Free for kids 1-5. Purchase tickets at DanceWorks Studio, 6511 N.E. 137th Ave. Online coupon for $2 off admission.

Contact: 360-892-5664 or danceworkswa.com

“Jazzy Nutcracker” presented by Vancouver School of Arts and Academics

Details: Dancers and musicians from Vancouver School of Arts and Academics will perform Duke Ellington’s “Nutcracker Suite” in the spirit of the United Service Organization events from decades ago. This is the production’s first year.

Artistic directors: Jackie Sacks and Luke Brockman.

When: 7 p.m. Dec. 12; 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 13.

Where: Vancouver School of Arts and Academics, 3101 Main St., Vancouver.

Tickets: $4, $3 for seniors; purchase at the door.

Contact: 360-313-4600; arts.vansd.org

Columbia Dance presents “The Nutcracker”

Details: Columbia Dance presents its 17th “The Nutcracker,” set in 1850s New England with 90 local dancers telling the story of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince as they battle the Mouse King and embark on a thrilling journey through the Land of Snow into the Kingdom of Sweets.

Artistic director: Jan Hurst.

When: 7 p.m. Dec. 19; 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 20; 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 21; 1 p.m. Dec. 22.

Where: Royal Durst Theatre, Vancouver School of Arts and Academics, 3101 Main St., Vancouver.

Tickets: $20, $15 for seniors, $10 for ages 12 and younger. Purchase tickets online at columbiadance.org or in person at Columbia Dance Studio, 1700 Broadway; Divine Consign, 904 Main St.; Beacock Music, 1420 S.E. 163rd Ave.; or at the door, subject to availability.

Contact: 360-737-1922 or columbiadance.org

In Portland

“George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker” presented by Oregon Ballet Theatre

Details: Oregon Ballet Theatre presents its annual holiday performance of George Balanchine’s choreography, as Marie travels on an unexpected adventure as toys come to life, snowflakes dance and confections rule the land. The theater’s live orchestra will perform at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 and 20 and 2 p.m. Dec. 14 and 21. The production has 81 children — 10 from Southwest Washington — dancing more than 65 roles. Malia McClanahan, 12, from Camas, dances the role of Marie.

Artistic director: Kevin Irving.

When: 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13, 14, 19-21, 23 and 27; 7:30 p.m. only Dec. 18 and 26; noon only Dec. 24.

Where: Keller Auditorium, 222 S.W. Clay, Portland.

Tickets for recorded-orchestra performances: $19 to $101; tickets for live-orchestra performances: $27 to $144; purchase in person at the box office or online at www.ticketmaster.com/

Contact: 503-222-5538 or obt.org

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Columbian Education Reporter