Moscow
Ballet modernizes ‘The Nutcracker'
By Monica Levette Clark
On-line Forty-Niner
World-renown
Russian dance company, Moscow Ballet, will
present the West Coast premiere of its version
of a holiday classic this weekend at the
Terrace Theatre in downtown Long Beach.
The
"Great Russian Nutcracker," a
present-day interpretation of "The
Nutcracker," a ballet which was originally
created by Russian choreographer Lev Ivanov
in the late 1800s, is part of the ballet
company's 10th anniversary celebration touring
in the United States.
"It
will be the event of the season in 70 cities
from New York to Los Angeles," Akiva
Talmi the company's producer said.
Fifty
graduates from the Moscow Choreographic
Institute and Vaganova Academy make up the
all-Russian cast.
Valeri
Lantratov, a former guest artist of the
Bolshoi, Stanislavski and Kremlin theaters,
and prima ballerina Lana Kazantseva, a three-year
winner of the International Contest of Ballet
Dancers, will be featured in principal roles
in the performance.
"
‘The Nutcracker' has always been a holiday
treasure the whole family can enjoy,"
said Dan Spellens, director of theatres
and entertainment for the Long Beach Convention
and Entertainment Center.
A
new set design, created by Valentin Fedorev,
will make up the magical atmosphere of the
stage.
Fedorev,
a resident stage designer of the Chibarksari
Opera House, is known for his diverse and
often wonderfully comical sets.
The
story of "The Nutcracker" traditionally
culminates in a place called the Land of
the Sweets, but the company puts a twist
to that tradition by culminating in the
Land of Peace and Harmony.
"It
takes the audience to a world of enchantment
and peace, where dreams are made real, language
is no barrier and it is always the season
of love and giving," said Karen Holm
of the company's media relations.
The
Terrace Theatre is located inside the Long
Beach Performing Arts Center. The
ballet opens Thursday at 7:30 p.m., and
will run through Saturday, on which, there
will be a matinee performance at 2 p.m.,
along with the evening performance.
Ticket
prices range from $30 to $45 and can be
purchased at the center box office located
at 300 E. Ocean Blvd. For more information,
student can log on to Nutcracker.com.
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