This is the season for annual productions of “The Nutcracker” — and audiences have their choice of shows in the West Windsor-Plainsboro area. While every production of the Nutcracker ballet is different, each has Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, the Mouse King, Mother Ginger, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and the Land of Sweets. Some productions are narrated, which makes it a nice introduction to ballet for young children.
The Nutcracker, based on “The Nutcracker of Nuremberg” by Alexander Dumas, is an adaptation of “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” by E.T.A. Hoffmann. Tchaikovsky was commissioned to write the music for the ballet in 1891, and the world premiere was in 1892 at the Mariinsky Theater of Russia. It was not performed in the United States until 1940.
‘The Nutcracker Suite” will be presented by the #b#West Windsor Plainsboro Dance Company#/b# on Saturday and Sunday, December 6 and 7, at Grover Middle School in West Windsor. Tickets are $11 at the door.
Children and adults will delight in the narrated version of the classic tale of a young girl’s journey to the Land of the Snow and the Land of the Sweets. The music of Tchaikovsky highlights a choreographed production that features ballet, pointe, lyric, jazz, tap, and hip hop.
The coveted role of the Sugar Plum Fairy will be danced by Abby Tattle, 17, a junior at High School North. A student at the Dance Corner since she was five, she was a Candy Cane in her first WWPDC Nutcracker Suite production. “I have always dreamed of being the Sugar Plum fairy,” she say. “Now I am excited to dance my dream.”
Abby and her two sisters, who are also dancers, have performed every year in WWPDC productions. The Tattles, of West Windsor, are leaving for Switzerland on December 29 because of a job opportunity for their father.
“I will continue to dance at an English-speaking studio in Zurich, Switzerland,” says Abby. “Another interest I have is participating in school musicals where I can do a bit of acting and dancing.”
The role of Clara will be danced by Elizabeth Lanphear, 17, who has been taking dance at the Dance Corner since she was three, and was a Baby Mouse in her first Nutcracker Suite production. She is a senior at Hightstown High School.
West Windsor dancers include Sydney Abitanto, Ava Barbrow, Regan Blessing, Alexa Bornstein, Kayla Chait, Neve Coen, Winnie Coen, Alaina Crichton, Gabriella DiRusso, Faith Falkowitz, Julia Felice, Mia Ferri, Caroline Foley, Sarah Glickson, Josephine Holler, Hope Jaworowski, Isabel Josephson, Aanya Kandula, Sree Kandula, Eve Kavalov, Lula Kavalov, Jamie Kobus, Kelsey Kobus, Julia Kozakowski, Lauren Kuczmarski, Georgia Lager, Charlotte Lichtenstein, Kimberly Litzinger, Casey McElroy, Kelly McElroy, William McElroy, Emma Mudgett, Sanjana Musafir, Aditi Nayak.
And Hope Pandolpho, Julia Perl, Ruth Perl, Sophie Pirrera, Amanda Popovic, Olivia Popovic, Rachel Porada, Christine Rexroad, Josephine Ryan, Aishani Sengupta, Kaila Shah, Rebecca Slater, Corinne Smith, Jeanette Smith, Shannon Smith, Chloe Song, Abigail Tattle, Kelsey Tattle, Sydney Tattle, Trieu Tran, Regina Trevino, Rachel Trokenheim, Paloma Villota, Anika Vincent, Peter Wilityer, Roni Wilityer, Kate Wirth, Madeline Wirth, Jasmine Woo, Alexandra Wren, and Madeline Wren.
Plainsboro dancers include Katherine Antos, Prisha Bagchi, Nadia Burston, Julia Calo, Elizabeth Cruz, Christine de Jong, Sarah de Jong, Grace Kolker, Amanda Kowalski, Carly Kowalski, Cayla Lemkin, Kezia Pacchiani, Alexa Rubin, Lindsay Rubin, Natasha Singer, Iris Tseng, Sophia Vivona, and Elizabeth Wang.
#b#The Alborada Spanish Dance Theater#/b# presents “El Sueno: A Cultural Holiday Celebration” on Saturday, December 13, at 2 and 7 p.m. The Spanish dance company production is a unique adaptation of “The Nutcracker.” Set to live music, the professional dancers and young artists perform gypsy flamenco, Spanish regional, and dances from various Latin American cultures. Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors, and $14 for students and children.
#b#The New Jersey Youth Ballet#/b# presents its original hour-long, narrated adaptation of “The Nutcracker” ballet on Friday, December 19, at 7 p.m.;, Saturday, December 20, at 1 and 4 p.m.; and Sunday, December 21, at 1 and 4 p.m. Dancers in full costume perform to the Tchaikovsky score as they transport audiences to the Land of the Sweets. Tickets are $16 for adults, and $14 for seniors, students, and children.
#b#The Nutcracker Suite, West Windsor Plainsboro Dance Company#/b# , Grover Middle School, Village Road, West Windsor. Saturday, December 6, 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 7, 1 p.m. A narrated version of the timeless classic tale featuring ballet, pointe, lyrical, hip-hop, tap, and jazz. Choreography by Amy DeCesare, Roni Wilityer, and Victoria Chodrow. Register. $11. 609-799-9677. www.thedancecorner.org.
#b#El Sueno, Kelsey Theater, Mercer Community College#/b#, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Saturday, December 13, 2 and 7 p.m. A cultural holiday celebration presented by Alborada Spanish Dance Theater. $18. 609-570-3333. www.kelseytheatre.net.
#b#The Nutcracker, Kelsey Theater, Mercer County Community College#/b#, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Friday, December 19, 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, December 20 and 21, 1 and 4 p.m. New Jersey Youth Ballet transports the audience to the Land of the Sweets. Fully narrated version of the classic ballet. $16. 609-570-3333. www.kelseytheatre.net.
