Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Although the ubiquity of "The Nutcracker" at Christmas makes it hard to believe, the ballet was neglected for more than a half century after it first was performed in 1891. It really caught on in the United States in the 1950s, and is the most frequently performed ballet in this country.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
'Nutcracker': Local kids take a crack at holiday ballet
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Although the ubiquity of "The Nutcracker" at Christmas makes it hard to believe, the ballet was neglected for more than a half century after it first was performed in 1891. It really caught on in the United States in the 1950s, and is the most frequently performed ballet in this country.
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6 comments:
What a great way to get children more involved in the arts! It is one thing to take lessons for five years, but another totally different experience to actually perform in a piece seen by the public. There is something about the stage that is contagious and I believe performing onstage at a young age is a great way to become acclimated to the art. Things like this may also help a child who might possibly have stage fright or is shy in their everyday life. There is so much to be said for this opportunity, I only wish I had such a chance when I was younger. So fun!
This is cute. I agree with Sam, this is a great way to get children involved in the arts. Performing for an audience is a great way to give a new experience while boosting their self confidence. It is also nice that they are being taught this through a classic such as The Nutcracker. It is important that the younger generations learn about these pieces so they can stay alive for generations to come - and perhaps their children will be doing the same thing.
I like that they are changing this nutcracker up to make it seem more fresh. Often this show can get stale and finding new settings and ways to draw people in is important. I also think that the children getting an opportunity to perform for an audience so young is a good thing. I used to dance and did not do so in front of an audience until I was almost 10 and it would have been nice to get used to that feeling at an earlier age.
I agree with Devorah that it is refreshing to see that they are planning on changing up parts of the show, as it does tend to become antiquated and stale during certain segments. I'm interested, however, in seeing how the audience will react to these changes. For many, such as the couple in the article, seeing the Nutcracker every Christmas is a tradition, and audiences return expecting to see much the same show as they have seen in previous seasons. I wonder if for those audience members the changes will seem refreshing, or if they will be regarded as an annoying and modern twist to an already good ballet.
It's great to see professional theaters reaching out to younger participants, and what better way to fill the roles of children in the show than to cast actual children? In another article about the production where professional members were interviewed, many of them recall their fondest memories of The Nutcracker from their childhoods. And look at where that inspiration brought them! This is a great way to create future performers and artists that will keep the art of theatre alive.
As someone who does not get jazzed about the Nutcracker ever Christmas, I'm glad that they are bringing in local kids to do this show. Not only is it a great way to bring kids into the arts and let them perform in front of a large audience, but it also gets the entire community involved. People love to go see their friends, kids, and friend's kids in shows and may bring even more people to the arts. I think this a great idea and an important step towards community involvement in the arts. People are more likely to support something they feel they have a personal stock in and bringing kids from the area is a perfect way to garner support, both morally and financially.
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