It's a funny truth that Europeans, generally, do not share the wild Nutcracker-mania that sweeps the US every December. The Nutcracker is actually Russian--well of course, right?-- and didn't hit American shores until sometime in the mid-1960s. But hit it did, and I can tell you that all American ballet dancers have a crazy love-hate relationship with this ballet. On the one hand, we're sick of it; on the other, so many good memories! On the one hand, why can't we dance more "serious" ballets? On the other--look how much money the company made off it this year! On the one hand, every Tom, Dick and Harry, thinks they know about ballet from having seen a Nutcracker once; on the other, people are actually interested in your work!
So you won't be surprised to know that my first couple years in Denmark felt like a decadent holiday, a totally relaxing break from overgrown mice and saccharine sugarplums. And then, of course, I started to miss it.
And you won't be surprised to know that I actually bought tickets to see a Nutcracker last year, when Den Kongelige Ballet (Royal Danish Ballet) brought their new production to Aarhus. Overall, I was underwhelmed. I've seen a lot of Nuts, and this one wasn't even original-- it was the Balanchine version that New York City Ballet does. And I didn't think that many of the dancers felt comfortable with that style. But I did love the sets and costumes. I loved the inspired blend of old and new; and that the production looked so Danish, so classically European and yet so modern and bright.
See for yourself.
So you won't be surprised to know that my first couple years in Denmark felt like a decadent holiday, a totally relaxing break from overgrown mice and saccharine sugarplums. And then, of course, I started to miss it.
And you won't be surprised to know that I actually bought tickets to see a Nutcracker last year, when Den Kongelige Ballet (Royal Danish Ballet) brought their new production to Aarhus. Overall, I was underwhelmed. I've seen a lot of Nuts, and this one wasn't even original-- it was the Balanchine version that New York City Ballet does. And I didn't think that many of the dancers felt comfortable with that style. But I did love the sets and costumes. I loved the inspired blend of old and new; and that the production looked so Danish, so classically European and yet so modern and bright.
See for yourself.
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