The Nutcracker: A Cincinnati Tradition
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How did this Russian ballet about a German family celebration become America’s favorite holiday tradition?
It’s all because of Willam Christensen.
Christensen, founder of San Francisco Ballet, choreographed the very first full-length production of The Nutcracker in the United States in 1944.
As an aspiring and later professional dancer, I grew up with Willam Christensen’s Nutcracker. I had the honor of dancing as Clara in his Ballet West (Salt Lake City) and eventually Snow Queen in his San Francisco Ballet production. The triumphant fairytale is dear to my heart – just as it is to yours.
Cincinnati Ballet has offered The Nutcracker – with support from Frisch’s – since 1974. Then Artistic Director David McLain worked with our beloved Artistic Director Emeritus Frederic Franklin, Roman Jasinski and Joycelyn Larkin to choreograph the company’s first Nutcracker, a production with vaudevillian flair, inspired by Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.
Cincinnati Ballet presented Franklin’s Nutcracker until 1987, when new Artistic Director Ivan Nagy brought Ben Stevenson to choreograph and Peter Farmer to design sets and costumes. In 1995 Peter Anastos choreographed The Nutcracker with sets and costumes by Vladimir Vasiliev.
In 1997, I brought Willam Christensen’s original choreography to Cincinnati Ballet’s Nutcracker stage. I had been so moved by his work as a child and during my career as a dancer that I wanted to share it with Cincinnati. I combined Christensen’s work with different scenes by Freddie Franklin, Dennis Poole and Nigel Burgoine. Each section of that Nutcracker had a different feeling, a diversity of artistic performance.
And in 2001, we brought Val Caniparoli to choreograph the magical production you see before you onstage today, with sets and costumes designed by Alain Vaës. In this story, Marie is the young heroine in love with the Nutcracker prince, and the toymaker Herr Drosselmeier brings his gifts to life with magic. And thanks to the generosity of the Louise Dieterle Nippert Foundation, this production features Tchaikovsky’s melodic, familiar score performed live by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
Since 1974, Cincinnati Ballet’s presentation of the Nutcracker has delighted hundreds of thousands with its moments of magic, opulent celebrations and faraway journeys.
In 2011, Cincinnati Ballet offers a new, world-premiere production of Frisch's Presents The Nutcracker with never-before-seen sets, costumes and new choreography. You can be a part of this new production by supporting Cincinnati Ballet. Find out more by exploring Drosselmeier's Workshop. See you onstage December 2011!
