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It's easy to see why The Nutcracker is a holiday favourite with its heartwarming tale, beautiful choreography, and talented cast.
Ballet Kelowna has been participating in the Canadian School of Ballet's annual show of the The Nutcracker since 2003, but it's far from stale. This year's performance featured innovative choreography and more advanced techniques thanks to new directors Carley Bailey and Regeana Stubel, and the dancers enchanted from the moment the lights went up.
(Photo Credit: KelownaNow)
The Nutcracker tells the story of Clara, a young girl who receives a special Nutcracker from Drosselmeyer, a special guest at their family Christmas party. She then falls asleep and experiences a magical dream of a fierce battle between some nasty rats and the Nutcracker with his soldiers. After the Rat King is defeated, Clara and the Nutcracker are welcomed by all sorts of dancers into this kingdom until she wakes up to find it was all a dream.
The show didn't have a dull moment, whether it was the maids performing their antics on the side or the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier thrilling Clara (and the audience) with their incredible grace and talent. Some gorgeous sets and surprising pyrotechnics only added to the enjoyable experience. The audience was drawn in right away, laughing at small mice stealing food from the cupboards and watching wide-eyed at some of the advanced choreography in this Christmas enchantment.
(Photo Credit: KelownaNow)
The Nutcracker featured professional dancers from Ballet Kelowna and the Canadian School of Ballet as well as young students who got the opportunity to dance and rehearse alongside such skilled artists. Of the three featured dancers playing Clara, the Nutcracker, and Drosselmeyer, two are Okanagan high school students. Clare Fleming, a grade 11 student at Immaculata Regional High School in Kelowna, danced the role of Clara in her 11th Nutcracker. The Nutcracker himself was played by Cameron Fraser-Monroe, a French Immersion grade 10 student at WL Seaton Secondary in Vernon. Chris Larsen, a dancer with 15 years of experience in international ballet companies and part of the Canadian School of Ballet's faculty, played the role of Drosselmeyer.
The fabulous Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier were also played by B.C. dancers. Kelowna native Desiree Bortolussi, who's currently in her third season with Ballet Kelowna, took on the Sugar Plum Fairy and Jedidiah Duifhuis from Vancouver played her Cavalier. Duifhuis is also in his third season with Ballet Kelowna.
The final performance is on Sunday at 2 p.m., and make sure to check out some of Ballet Kelowna's upcoming performances in the spring.
(Photo Credit: KelownaNow)
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