Cyan Magenta Yellow Black

MAGAZINETOLEDO

Ballet companies prepare to present ‘Nutcracker’

T H E B L A D E , T O L E D O , O H I O S U N D A Y , N O V E M B E R 2 3 , 2 0 1 4 S E C T I O N C , P A G E 6

THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT

THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT

THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTHTHE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH

THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH

THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH

THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT

THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT

By SALLY VALLONGOSPECIAL TO THE BLADE

� e Nutcracker, that balletic expression of the wonder and mystery of Christmas, is about to take over Toledo’s holiday imagination, again.

For months, studios have bustled with rehearsals as dancers from preschool to post-Boomer learn to be mice, soldiers, snow� akes, Arabian dancers, � owers, tiny acrobats, and more.

Costumes have been � tted, scenery reinvented, props refurbished, lighting updated.

Can Christmas even happen without hearing Tchaikovsky’s beloved score?

Certainly not at Toledo Ballet, which puts on the oldest continuous produc-tion of � e Nutcracker in the country. De� nitely not at Ballet � eatre of To-ledo, which this year is marking its � rst decade of bringing the magical tale to life.

And absolutely not at River Raisin Ballet Company in Monroe, where tra-dition rules, or at Julie’s Dance Studio in Bowling Green, where dancers are gearing up for their reinvented version, � e Nutcracker, “All Jazzed Up.”

Along with hundreds of companies across the country and around the globe, they are in � nal preparation for what is an audience favorite and a budget-booster.

Last weekend at Ballet � eatre in Spring� eld Township, choreographer Nigel Burgoine presided over an Act I run-through — the party scene. � at’s when we meet Clara and Fritz, smiling adults as parents, and Herr Drosselmeyer and his magical Nutcracker.

Preparations are nearing completion for Ballet � eatre of Toledo shows Friday, Saturday, and Nov. 30 at the Valentine � eatre.

Emma Hennessey, 11, who will portray one of the two Claras (the role typically is double cast) was selling the role of ingenue, all big eyes and wide smile as she cradled her very special gift.

She’d auditioned, as soloists do everywhere, but not for this coveted role.

“When I saw my name by Clara on the list, I was shocked,” she said.

Evan Zorovich-Long, 11, now in his second year as Fritz, Clara’s impish brother, spoke for all per-formers everywhere. “Being onstage, it’s like, fun.”

At Franklin Park Mall, the Toledo Ballet is ready-ing its 74th annual production for Dec. 13 and 14 performances at the Stranahan � eater.

Lisa Mayer, who heads the company’s busy school, is also in charge of this annual event, which, as a young dancer at Marie Bollinger Vogt’s school, she performed in too.

“� e exciting thing about doing Nutcracker year after year is that while the choreography stays sim-ilar, new dancers bring di� ering nuances and in-dividual styles to roles that have been danced by others.”

Also, choosing signature roles — from Clara and Fritz to the over-the-top Mother Ginger in Act II — builds community interest.

“When I was 3, my mother gave me a video of New York City Ballet’s pro-duction of Nutcracker and I watched it over and over again,” wrote Elizabeth Stuart on the Toledo Ballet Web site and in a news press release. She will be one of Toledo Ballet’s two Claras this year.

Nora Light, the alternate Clara, says, “It makes me happy. I could be having the worst day, but once I start dancing

it’s like all of my problems just disappear.”Stepping up for the Mother Ginger role will be

local � gureheads Romules Durant, Randy Oostra, Denny Scha� er, and Tom Walton.

Both of these productions are accompanied by live music. Ballet � eatre uses its own orchestra, with Wayne Anthony returning to conduct. Toledo Ballet brings in the Toledo Symphony.

Most companies bring in specialists for the big solos, especially the Snow Queen, Sugar Plum Fairy, and their male counterparts.

Toledo Ballet is once again bringing in Mary Car-men Catoya and Renato Penteado from the Miami City Ballet. Sarah Hairston and Zack Grubbs from the Cincinnati Ballet will perform the demanding roles for Ballet � eatre.

In Monroe, where company founder Gail Cho-ate-Pettit is hip-deep in rehearsals for their Dec. 6 and 7 shows at the River Raisin Center for Arts, for-mer students moving into professional circles will return as stars.

Contact Sally Vallongo at: svallongo@theblade.com.

S E C T I O N C , P A G E 6

Their Toes

IF YOU GO● Ballet � eatre of

Toledo: 7 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday, and Nov. 30. Valentine � eatre. Tickets are $22-$39. Information: 419-861-0895 or 419-242-2787.● River Raisin Ballet

Company: 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 6; 3 p.m. Dec. 7. River Raisin Centre for the Arts, 114 S. Main St., Monroe. Tickets are $12-$18 at 734-242-7722 or www.riverraisincen-tre.org.● Toledo Ballet: 2

and 7 p.m. Dec. 13, 2 p.m. Dec. 14. Stranahan � eater. Tickets are $24-$54 at 419-381-8851 or www.toledoballet.net.● Julie’s Dance Stu-

dio: 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 20; 2 p.m. Dec. 21. Ko-backer Hall, Bowling Green State Universi-ty Moore Musical Arts Center. Tickets are $15.50-$18.50 at 419-353-5030

On

The Nutcracker

Can Christmas even happen

without hearing Tchaikovsky’s beloved score?

Charlotte � urston, 16, front left, rehearses for the Toledo Ballet’s 74th annual production of the holiday favorite.

Anne Marie Getz and Emma Hennessey, 11, at Ballet � eatre of Toledo.

Evan Zorovich-Long, 11, dances at the Ballet � eatre of Toledo.

Charlotte � urston, front, with Lydia Lanzinger, 16, back left, and Emily Clark, 17, at the Toledo Ballet.

Graham Feeny and Nora Light, both 14, re-hearse for the Toledo Ballet’s ‘Nutcracker.’

From left, direc-tor Lisa Mayer,

Gwen Schirm Clark, Michael

Warrick, DeAnn Gorun Baker,

and Steven Brown at the

Toledo Ballet.

Sydney Kutcher, 12, will dance in

the Ballet � e-atre of Toledo production of

‘� e Nutcracker.’

Elliette Bartlett, 7, Ballet � eatre of Toledo.

(NO FOLIO) - C6 - Sunday, November 23, 2014 Sunday, November 23, 2014 7:25 AM