Campbell’s Dance Studio owner Frances Campbell is proud to announce The Nutcracker ballet, now in its 22nd year, has exciting and unique new choreography.
“This original rendition is the brainchild of Lawrence Rollins, our studio choreographer for the last 16 years,” Frances said. “Larry has created a dancing Drosselmeyer with the personage of former Campbell’s dance student Jonathan Renwick, whose inclusion as Clara’s godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer, in every scene, carries the thread of the ballet’s story throughout in a more vivid and understandable way,” she continued.
“My approach is a little different,” Lawrence explained. “I treat The Nutcracker like a play. One of the things that always bothered me about The Nutcracker was there is really no connection between acts one and two. I have tried, over the years, to mesh the storyline from beginning to end. In this latest production, everything that happens to Clara is presented in the form of a dream by her godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer.
“It is he who sets the story in motion, and everything happens because of him. He stages the battle scene, creates the snow scene, and safely conducts Clara to the Land of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” Lawrence continued. “He puts Clara in the position to save the Nutcracker, and because of that, not only does the Nutcracker transform into the handsome prince, but Clara transforms from a little girl to a young lady.
“Most of the choreography is of my own invention, with a few exceptions,” Lawrence continued. “The dance between the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Nutcracker, and the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy are original—as they were performed in the ballet’s première at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Dec. 18, 1892. This is tradition, and I teach my students to respect tradition by doing the original choreography.”
Prior to the ballet, there is a short Homecoming performance of Sweeter Music, presented by previous cast members, many of whom played Clara in years past. “They are having a wonderful time getting together to dance again.” Frances said.
“This year, we have many parents participating, from waltzing in the initial Christmas Party scene, to Joe Brooks designing our newest prop, a magical, dancing sleigh,” Frances said.
The Nutcracker will be performed on Friday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., at Mountain View High School, located at 2700 E. Brown Road. Tickets are $13 for adults; $12 for students and seniors; and $11 for children under 12. Tickets are available at Campbell’s Dance Studio, 2820 E. University Drive, Suite 106.
Those attendees, who donate one canned good for Paz de Cristo Outreach Center’s food program for each ticket, will receive $1 off tickets purchased at the studio prior to Dec. 2.
In addition, Campbell’s studio will be performing a holiday show entitled North Pole Musical on Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 6:30 p.m., at Mesa High School, located at 1630 E. Southern Ave. Tickets are $10 for adults; $8 for students and seniors; and $6 for those under 12.
For more information, visit www.campbellsdance.com, or call (480) 830-3450.