Dance Wisconsin Celebrates Forty-Two Years of The Nutcracker and Still Crackin'
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Photo courtesy of JoJean Retrum
Ella Ginocchio (left), daughter of David and Martha, will be dancing the role of a Party Boy in Act I, and Hunter Lindstrom (right), son of Jerry and Anne Marie, dancing the roles of Perrot Doll and The Nutcracker and Arabian in Act II of The Nutcracker.
This is a special year for Dance Wisconsin; JoJean Retrum is celebrating 42 years of her classic version of the original Nutcracker in Shannon Hall at the Wisconsin Union Theater. Performances will take place Saturday, December 15, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, December 16, at 2:00 p.m. at the Wisconsin Union Theater.
The Tchaikovsky score will be performed by the Dance Wisconsin orchestra and conducted by Taras Nahirniak. The Monona Grove High School singers will accompany several pieces.
Guest Artists are Maggie Batterman, daughter of Katy and Dave, studying at Hubbard Street in Chicago and Kyle Cunningham, from the Nashville Ballet.
Maggie is dancing lead role of the Sugar Plum Fairy with Kyle Cunningham as her Cavalier. Maggie has danced at Monona Academy of Dance and was a member of the Dance Wisconsin Company for several years before moving to Chicago to pursue her studies.
They will be joined by the Dance Wisconsin Company and dancers from numerous southern Wisconsin studios. Many alumni and their children from the past years have returned to perform in this wonderful holiday tradition.
The ballet begins at the home of the Silberhaus family on Christmas Eve. Friends of Clara and Fritz have been invited for Christmas festivities. Clara's uncle, Herr Drosselmeyer, appears with his handsome nephew, gifts, and a special nutcracker doll for Clara. After the party guests leave, Clara sneaks downstairs in search of her nutcracker and falls asleep on the sofa. Clara begins to dream that she is awakened to find herself surrounded by huge mice making mischief in the parlor. The Christmas tree begins to grow and the Nutcracker doll comes to life and battles with the mice. After the Mouse King is slain, Clara is transported to a fantasy land where the Snow Queen and King perform for her. The spell that enchanted the Nutcracker doll is broken, and he is transformed into a handsome prince. Clara and the prince travel together to Candyland.
Dancing from the New Glarus area are Ella Ginocchio, daughter of David and Martha, dancing the role of a Party Boy in Act I, and Hunter Lindstrom, son of Jerry and Anne Marie, dancing the roles of Perrot Doll and The Nutcracker and Arabian in Act II.
For more information call (608) 221-4535 or check out their website at http://www.dancewisconsin.com.
Ticket prices for adults range from $22 - $40 dollars. There is a $2 discount for seniors, and children are half price. To purchase tickets visit the Wisconsin Union Theater Box Office located at 800 Langdon Street, call (608) 265-ARTS or buy on line at http://www.uniontheater.wisc.edu.
