Plainsboro-based Princeton Youth Ballet opens its 2016-2017 season with a new production of The Nutcracker to be performed on Dec. 10 and Dec. 11 at 4 p.m. at Princeton High School Performing Arts Center, 151 Moore Street, Princeton.
Princeton Youth Ballet is presenting a new version of the beloved holiday classic, conceived and choreographed by Artistic Director Risa Kaplowitz.
The story follows a young girl, Marie, who has been given an enchanted Nutcracker doll by her godfather, Dr. Drosselmeyer. Unbeknownst to her, the Nutcracker is really Drosselmeyer’s nephew held captive under the spell of a vengeful Mouse King. The adventure that follows includes a harrowing and sometimes comical battle between soldiers and mice, a Forest of Dancing Sugar Crystals and Marie’s coronation in the indulgent Land of the Sweets.
“The most challenging aspect of creating my own Nutcracker was getting everyone else’s version out of my head,” Kaplowitz said. “Like so many professional ballet dancers, I have danced in and seen a lot of Nutcracker ballets. I got over that hurdle by focusing only on the narrative in the music and by reminding myself that while there may be hundreds of versions, no one else could create mine.”
In addition to The Nutcracker, Kaplowitz also created The Secret Garden, The Snow Queen, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Cinderella for the Princeton Youth Ballet. Her experience as a former principal dancer and as a nationally prominent dance educator with the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum gives her a special knack for wordless storytelling.
The 85 cast members in The Nutcracker are a group of young dancers who are artistically eloquent beyond their years.
“Princeton Youth Ballet audiences expect to see highly-skilled and passionate young dancers in our magical productions,” Kaplowitz said. “I believe the enchantment of our new Nutcracker will stay with viewers for a long time.”
Tickets are $15 to $20 in advance or $20 to $25 at the door. Tickets can be purchased online or by phone, 1-800-838-3006, Ext. 1.
For more information about Princeton Youth Ballet visit princetonyouthballet.org.
Princeton Youth Ballet dancers practicing ‘The Nutcracker’ (Photo courtesy the PYB Facebook.),
