Nothing ushers in the holiday season like the annual productions of “The Nutcracker,†being staged this year by four dance troupes in Kitsap County. Performing the classic ballet are Dance Ensemble Northwest of Poulsbo, Dance Arts Theatre of Silverdale, Peninsula Dance Theatre of Bremerton and Academy of Dance in Port Orchard.
Performing “The Nutcracker†is such a tradition that many children grow up through the parts. Many a tiny gumdrop or snowflake has dreamed of being Clara one day, and more than a few have.
“The Nutcracker,†of course, takes place on Christmas Eve as young Clara receives a beautiful nutcracker soldier from her uncle, Herr Drosselmeyer, a toymaker. She loves the brightly painted soldier, but her little brother tries to take it away and breaks it in the tussle. Drosselmeyer mends the doll, and after everyone leaves Clara falls asleep with the nutcracker and dreams a fantasy that is made for ballet.
“The Nutcracker Suite†was written by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1892 for its premier in St. Petersburg Russia by the Imperial Ballet.
While the ballet was an ongoing favorite in Europe, it didn’t gain popularity in the United States until a version was produced by choreographer George Balanchine for the New York City Ballet in 1954. Now, it’s hard to imagine a holiday season without it.
• Dance Ensemble Northwest, from Liberty Bay Dance Works in Poulsbo, kicks off the season with performances at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24 and 25 and 2:30 p.m. Nov. 26 at the North Kitsap Auditorium on Hostmark.
Tickets are $12 adults, $8 seniors and children, available at (360) 779-7090.
Dancing the major roles are Roxanne Foster, Clara; David Harvey, Prince; Stacie Brown, Megan Barnes and Emma Harvey, Snow Princesses; Johanna Lund, Arabian; Stacie Brown, Rose Queen; Megan Barnes, Spanish and Emma Harvey, Sugar Plum.
Choreography is by Artistic Director Michael Falotico and guest choreographer David Harvey.
• Dance Arts Theatre, from Irene’s School of Dance in Silverdale, presents its 19th annual production in two performances, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 25 and 2:30 p.m. Nov. 26 at the Bremerton High School Performing Arts Center.
Reserved seats are $12, all others $10 adults, $6 senior citizens and age 18 and under, available at Irene’s School of Dance, (360) 692-4395 and the Kitsap Mall information booth.
Dancing the major roles are Olivia Nelsen, Clara; Chelsea Thompson, Franz; Stephanie Federovski, Snow Princess; Erin Rogers, Arabian Princess and guest dancers Lindsi Dec and Karel Cruz from the Pacific Northwest Ballet dancing the roles of Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen and Sugar Plum Cavalier and Snow King.
• Peninsula Dance Theatre, from the Bremerton Dance Center, stages its 28th annual “Nutcracker Ballet†8 p.m. Dec. 1 and 3 p.m. Dec. 3 and 10 at the Bremerton High School Performing Arts Center. Alan Futterman directs the Peninsula Ballet Orchestra.
Tickets are $20 reserved seats, all others $15 adults, $12 seniors and students, $10 children 10 and under, available at the Bremerton and Port Orchard chambers of commerce, the Kitsap Mall information booth and at the Bremerton Dance Center.
Rachel Soule is Clara, Charlie Wilson is Herr Drosselmeyer, Logan Martin is the Prince, Amanda Johnson is the Snow Queen and Ryan Marshall is the Snow King.
• Academy of Dance rounds up the season with its sixth annual production of “The Nutcracker Narrative,†7 p.m. Dec. 9 and 2 p.m. Dec. 10 at South Kitsap High School’s Win Granlund Performing Arts Center.
Tickets are $10 advance, $12 at the door. Advance tickets available at Academy of Dance, (360) 769-7277.
Dancing the principal roles in this production are Payton Krumsick, Clara; Dustin Stauffer, Godfather Drosselmeyer; Ian Bartlett, Prince and Roseann Tillman, Sugar Plum Fairy.
At both performances the Academy is accepting cash donations and unwrapped gifts in support of Childhaven, a local organization which helps families who have been victims of child abuse and neglect.
