LITTLE ROCK — Now as predictable during the Christmas season as Starbucks’ gingerbread latte and every bit as sweet, The Great Russian Nutcracker delighted a full audience Sunday afternoon with its colorful and reinvigorated pageant of dance.
More than 45 young dancers from around Arkansas joined the Moscow Ballet pros for this whimsical version of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet at the Robinson Center Music Hall in Little Rock. The production, now in its 20th year, got a facelift in the form of ornate new costumes and bigger-than-life backdrops. While the performance hit a couple of technical snags, it was hardly noticed amid the fresh choreography, bigger cast and wonderful dancing in both acts.
Usually Act I at the Staulbaums’ Christmas party tends to be a bit stilted, but the flow and chemistry among the dancers made this a treat to watch. The climactic Nutcracker versus Mouse King battle royale proved a perfect place to highlight the talent of the younger dancers.
The “Dove of Peace” was imagined anew with breathtaking results - two dancers intertwined to create the giant wingspan of the bird, which guides Masha (Clara for those used to the traditional Nutcracker) through the Snow Forest. The sublime pas de deux was mesmerizing in its beauty but felt too short.
Masha and her Nutcracker Prince were spectacular in their multiple roles. That they both had enough energy for the elegant grand pas de deux is a testament to their talent and training.
Naturally, the show-stealer was still the exotic Arabian dance with its sinewy, athletic performers. Their acrobatic lifts, each one more ahh-inducing than its predecessor, drew thunderous applause.
The “emissaries” for the Chinese, Russian, French and Spanish variations also shined. The technique in The Great Russian Nutcracker has always been superb - the Vaganova-trained dancers pulloff fouettes, cabrioles and pirouettes with such precision.
This year, it wasn’t just the pas de deux pieces that captivated the audience. The larger group numbers featuring the corps de ballet were the most together they’ve ever been, and the addition of men to the Waltz of the Flowers gave the performance a new and welcome dimension.
While there was only one performance in Arkansas for this touring production, it has certainly become an eagerly anticipated informal kickoff to the Christmas season. The inclusion of local dancers as party guests, mice, snowflakes, snow maidens and variation dancers ensures that this tradition will continue to be a sweet one all can enjoy.
Arkansas, Pages 12 on 11/26/2012