Nutcracker(s) 2012

So, this year I went to see 2 Nutcrackers. I know you might be thinking, how did she survive that along with being in her school's own Nutcracker. Well, the thing is my school only does the Nutcracker every year so we can rent out a nice place for it to be held and focus solely on our technique at the beginning of every other year. So, 2 Nutcracker performances was just fine for me. I went to the Festival Ballet Providence (Providence, RI) production and the Boston Ballet (Boston, MA) production, they were both very well performed. Here's what I thought:

Festival Ballet Providence
Festival Ballet's was great (it made it even better that my best friend was in it). The costumes, dancing, and sets were amazing as usual. I especially love the party scene set because it is the back wall of the living room right on the stage, complete with stairway and balcony, amazing! The only thing that bothers me about the party scene and the overall casting is that Clara and her friends are Junior Company Trainee members and I feel that Clara should be a student since she is supposed to be a child in the story. The battle scene is good as well. The mice and toy soldiers are students, while the head mouse and nutcracker are taken by company members. I have always admired this battle scene for how well the mice and toy soldiers work together in the battle while "stage fighting". It takes some serious talent to look like they are actually battling. On to Act II. To be honest Act II has never been my favorite in any production. It's really just combinations with themes from different countries. This being said, their Act II is average. The dances are traditional and don't take many risks (accept for a few daring lifts in Arabian Mocha). As usual, the sugar plum fairy dance with her caviler drags on for way to long. Overall, this production is pretty good and the tickets weren't as expensive as Boston Ballet's which is a plus,

I give this production:       * * *

Boston Ballet
Let me start by say in this was a "new production" and I never saw the old one so I can't really compare the two. But anyway, this production was excellent. Only a little bit better than Festival Ballet Providence. The party scene was wonderful, but, traditional. I liked how Clara was played by a student that was about 11 or 12. The battle scene was wonderful to, but, traditional. Very well executed, but, nevertheless, traditional. Act II was the best I have seen so far though. That's a high statement since I very much dislike Act II. All the pieces has choreography that I didn't think I scene before. The Arabian mocha dance was amazing with daredevil lifts as usual, but it wasn't at all boring. Even, though the sugar plum fairy dance still drowned on to long, I couldn't take my eyes of this amazing ballerina! (I want to be her someday!) The costumes were fabulous, especially since they were brand new. The ticket were really expensive though, and we were in the 7th row on the balcony!

I give this production:       * * * *

Peace, Love, Ballet
~ Ballerina Bunhead