Dance Reviews

Dec 13, 2004 - Nevada Ballet Theatre's classic "Nutcracker" enchants at Reno's Pioneer Center

By Jack Neal

What a difference a year makes.

Bruce Steivel's Nevada Ballet Theatre returned to Reno for its third presentation of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker Ballet" and it's the best production Steivel and company have produced for Reno audiences.

This year's was a two performance run, a matinee and evening performance, Saturday (12/11/04) at Reno's Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts. Although not sold out (I attended the matinee) the audience was large and properly enthusiastic. And NBT's "Nutcracker" is something to be enthusiastic about.

The sets and costumes are by Russian designer Alexandre Vassiliev and they continue to be sumptuous. Mike Helms's translucent lighting is a major assist in the look of the ballet adding dramatic impact to movement and story through subtle nuances of light and shading. Asher Raboy conducts members of the Reno Philharmonic, and - much to his and the orchestra's credit for something they have all performed often - Tchakovsky's lovely and lyric score sounds as fresh as it must have sounded during its first performances. The company's dancing is better than ever, with some truly fine classical dancing by many principal dancers.

"The Nutcracker" is without a doubt a charmer for newcomers to this tried and true gift to the ballet box office. That Steivel's choreography and staging manages to get past those trying moments during the party scene is but one of his many triumphs. That's when "Nutcracker" turns into a photo op for the parents of all those wannabe dancers dance directors, such as Steivel, must use or be run out of town.

Mr. Steivel uses children very well. Many of youngsters actually dance and the ones not actually dancing are at least in step (those marching toy soldiers) and grace the stage with youthful vitality without the cloying cuteness some people pass off as being entertaining. In short, these were the best collection of kids on stage I've had the pleasure of watching for a very long time. As child stars Morgan O'Brian is an assured Clara; Logan Vine is a rascally Fritz.

The pleasures do not stop there.

Elena Shokhina is a regal Snow Queen with an elegant technique. Dereck Townsend, the Snow King, was Miss Shokhina's partner and he's young and dashing and turning into a male dancer with lots of potential for a bright future. A future of brightness is what Miss Shokhina already enjoys.

Natalia Chapourskya is an exquisite Sugar Plum Fairy. Baris Ehran is her Cavalier (he also doubles as the Nutcracker) and he is more than solid, he's superb. Their grand pas de deux was wonderfully brought off and a triumphant finale for a production filled with many mini triumphs.

Kelsey Campbell, Jacqueline Dory and Jared Hunt (Spanish) are standouts. Rebecca Brimhall, Aragorn Berner and Steven Bretzlaff presented a wonderfully controlled and quietly smoldering Arabian dance. Dmitry Zemskov has the fire and chutzpah to bring lots of pizzazz to the Russian Trepak and he did. All of the vignettes, indeed all of the corps de ballet work, come off as cleanly danced and a special pleasure to experience embraced as they are in Tchaikovsky's lovely Kingdom of Sweets.

Speaking of sweets. Concessionaires take note. Selling cellophane bags loaded with goodies may be grand for business, but it's murder on the ears for those wanting to hear what Tchaikovsky wrote.

Beyond the rattling of cellophane and some adults who don't know when to zip their lips, the Nevada Ballet Theatre's "The Nutcracker" makes for a delightful afternoon (or evening) of dance. This NBT production is a classy classic that should wow fans in Las Vegas where the company will spend its time leading up to Christmas.

For information regarding the Nevada Ballet Theatre's "Nutcracker" performances in Las Vegas call 772-243 2623 or 800-824-0353, extension 228.