Ballet Theatre of Maryland's 20th Anniversary of The Nutcracker is off to a great start! After performing for audiences in Hampstead, MD on November 24 and taking our Thanksgiving break, we are excited to bring the production home to Annapolis for performances on December 14, 15, 21, and 22. Read on to hear how things have been going.
Performing at Coppermine Pantherplex
The company first performed at Pantherplex last Nutcracker, and we enjoyed bringing the show back for even more audience members this season. There's something special about performing for patrons who do not have as many opportunities to see live professional dance; it encourages us to bring a little extra "sparkle" to the stage to make the experience meaningful.
Getting a performance of The Nutcracker under our belts so early was also beneficial for the company. It's a big, complex production with many moving parts: props have to appear and disappear at the right times, set pieces must move (including our rapidly growing Christmas tree), and quick costume changes in the wings have to go smoothly. It always comes together, but orchestrating all of these small steps into a harmonious whole takes practice. This early experience prepared us for smooth performances later this month.
Doing this early show benefited the dancers, as well! Building confidence on stage is an important part of the process in any young dancer's career, and a few dancers who were stepping into new roles breathed a sigh of relief after their Pantherplex performance went well. That sense of accomplishment will mean a lot when they take the stage again.
Returning to Rehearsals
After we returned from Hampstead, we had a day off to recuperate followed by three full run-throughs of the ballet in the studio. This ensured that all three casts had an opportunity to practice our roles and receive notes from the artistic staff one more time before we hit the stage.
Running the ballet in full is also an opportunity to learn how we'll pace our energy. This goes especially for our principal couple, Clara and The Nutcracker Prince, but it's valuable for everyone. A dancer may have a light show, meaning they only perform one minor role, or a heavy show, where they have a larger part or play multiple roles. For busy apprentices, corps de ballet members, and demi-soloists, that may be three, four, or even more roles in one show. You can imagine why practicing those quick changes at Pantherplex was helpful!
Loading in and Spacing at Maryland Hall
After celebrating Thanksgiving, it's time to load the production into the theater at Maryland Hall and start spacing each section on stage. Performing at Pantherplex gave us a headstart, but every stage is different. Creating the geometric patterns of big ensemble scenes such as Party, Battle, and Snow means carefully arranging the dancers in ways that fit the stage.
Our spacing rehearsals this week prepare us to add lights, make-up, and costumes for our dress rehearsals next week. Each part of the process has methodically carried us to this point, and the next step is performing! We hope that you'll join us during the run.
Getting Ready to Perform
Our shows at Maryland Hall are right around the corner. We invite you to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Dianna Cuatto's Nutcracker with us this holiday season. To extend the holiday cheer, consider joining us for a Sugar Plum Party, held one hour before each Sunday show. To purchase tickets to The Nutcracker and a Sugar Plum Party, visit our Nutcracker page today!
The Nutcracker at Maryland Hall
Saturday, December 14 at 7 pm
Sunday, December 15 at 1 pm & 4:30 pm
Saturday, December 21 at 7 pm
Sunday, December 22 at 1 pm & 4:30 pm
Promotional photos by Joanne Marie Photography
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