Many young girls idolize ballerinas. I always admired ballet dancers, especially when I was little — they seemed so beautiful, graceful and elegant. The Nutcracker ballet is the epitome of a child’s dream: fairies, ballerinas, a handsome prince and a fantasy land. Ballet West’s stunning performance of The Nutcracker delivered holiday spirit and nostalgia, giving the audience a joyous experience.
Ballet West, a dance company from Utah, had its opening night on Wednesday at the John F. Kennedy Center. The Nutcracker tells the story of a young girl, Clara, who gets a nutcracker from her godfather on Christmas Eve. The nutcracker comes to life, fights huge mice, transforms into a handsome prince and whisks Clara away to the fantastical Kingdom of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
In this magical land, Clara and her prince meet the Snow Queen, Sugar Plum Fairy and exotic dancers on their journey. The Nutcracker tells a story and is an incredible and intricate ballet. It was similar to a play in some ways, with hyper-realistic costumes and sets. All the rooms looked dimensional, and decorations brought the sets to life.
On the backdrops, swirling lights would highlight characters that “come alive” — making it look like the figures were transforming right in front of the audience. There was also a subtle snow animation, enhancing the wintery, festive mood.
My heart immediately leapt after hearing the first few notes to the beautiful opening song. The sound of that violin line instantly reminded the audience of the classic tale. This ballet showcased how the Kennedy Center’s live orchestra elevates every show.
A good portion of the ballet involved children. On Wednesday, Clara was played by 14-year-old Makenzie Hymes and dance pieces throughout included kids of all ages. A lot of these pieces were funny and brought energy to the show. There was a perfect mix of playful pieces and classical, precise ballet routines.
Just as expected, the costumes were enchanting. The Sugar Plum Fairy came out with huge, colorful wings and a trailing, wispy costume. The Snow Queen and her “snowflakes” were glittering in light blue dresses. The dancers wore an array of intricate and fun Spanish-, Arabian-, and Chinese-inspired costumes, bringing life to the story and characters.
Ballet West shined on Wednesday, and there were hardly any empty seats in the theatre. The precision and lively storytelling were much needed, leading up to a holiday season. It ended with Clara and the Nutcracker Prince lifting off and flying across the stage — an epic ending for a beautiful show. The Nutcracker at the Kennedy Center shined in every way.
