B ALLET IDAHO
SATURDAY DEC. 10
FIND
gear HAGGLEFEST
A spoonful of Sugarplum Fairy helps the Mouse King go down.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY DEC. 9-11 ballet BALLET IDAHO’S THE NUTCRACKER What’s not to love about nutcrackers? They’re helpful dolls that crack open snacks for you with their weird painted faces, while adding some festive flair to your holiday decor. And the name appeals to those with a juvenile sense of humor—utter the word “nutcracker” around a bunch of high-school freshmen, or your “that’s what she said” uncle who’s desperately clinging to his youth, and wait for the snickering. And then there’s the infamous ballet, which is almost as much an American Christmas tradition as Santa and silly songs about snowmen. Ballet Idaho will stage its rendition of the holiday classic Friday, Dec. 9-Sunday, Dec. 11, at the Morrison Center for the Performing Arts. Watch the talented company members pirouette around dancing holiday confections—in Act II, Spanish Chocolate, Chinese Tea, Arabian Coffee, French Marzipan, Russian Nougat, Salt Water Taffy Sailors and the Dewdrop Fairy all perform for Clara, the girl whose dream is the basis of the ballet. Sugarplum fairies, mice and toy soldiers abound in this adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s Nutcracker and Mouse King, which was later redone by the famed Three Musketeers writer Alexandre Dumas in his Tale of The Nutcracker. Dumas’ version remains the story on which most ballet performances are based. More than 100 years after these bits of literary genius were put to paper, The Nutcracker continues to be a holiday favorite. Although performances of the classic vary by company, Ballet Idaho will maintain a plethora of the ballet’s traditional elements—the Sugarplum Fairy and the Cavalier will perform a beautiful pas de deux, and there’s the battle between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King and a trip to the Land of Sweets. The dancers will perform the choreography of Ballet Idaho Artistic Director Peter Anastos to the music of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, that crazy-talented Russian who’s also behind the beloved ballets Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and Romeo and Juliet. Boise Philharmonic will perform Tchaikovsky’s music, and a slew of children will accompany Ballet Idaho dancers on stage. A goody bag of milk and cookies will be available following the matinee performances. Visit video. boiseweekly.com to see a video of the children’s rehearsal. Friday, Dec. 9, 8 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 10, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 11, noon and 4 p.m.; $35-$55. Morrison Center for the Performing Arts, 2201 Cesar Chavez Lane, 208-4261494, balletidaho.org.
immersing yourself in different cultures without having to go through a body-scan machine or eating airplane food? Well, you can (sort of) have that experience at Boise State on Saturday, Dec. 10. Boise State’s International Student Services will present Holidays Around the
SATURDAY DEC. 10 culture HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD Ever wish you could teleport across the world,
S U B M I T
World, a street fair-like event featuring music, dancing, face painting, balloon animals, snacks and a bunch of other fun stuff. 2-5 p.m., FREE. Student Union Jordan Ballroom, 1910 University Drive, 208-426-3652.
Winter sports enthusiasts seem to have a nearly inexhaustible supply of activity-related knickknacks they’ve accumulated over the years. That’s why ski swaps are such revered annual events. They give riders the opportunity to purge their garage of extra goggles and outgrown gloves and offer up their trash for others to treasure. But skiers and snowboarders aren’t the only ones with an excess of gadgets. Though musicians generally start out with little more than a single instrument, it doesn’t take long until their garage bands overfloweth with pedals, percussion gizmos, amps, cables and a stack of Frankenstrat gadgets created after a long evening of drinking. However, despite the revered annual tradition of swapping, there has been no single repository for weird old pedals and gasmask-harmonicas—with the exception of Craigslist, which doesn’t offer them in one single location. Until now. Ladies and gentleman, musicians and gift-shoppers of all ages, step right up and take part in the inaugural Hagglefest on Friday, Dec. 10, at The Venue. The event will feature local musicians of all sorts who will bring in their used gear to swap or sell. There will also be on-site diagnostics and repair, in case that “slightly used” amp is a little more used than slightly. However great the deals may be, event organizers are billing it as just as much of a chance to network as it is to score a new axe. So wear your chatty shoes to go with your deal-hunting cap, and bring your band’s sticker to go on the “guest wall.” There is a $10 sellerregistration fee—as well as a five-item limit—which includes entry. Proceeds will benefit the Boise Rock School, Radio Boise and Think Boise First. Noon-6 p.m., $5. The Venue, 521 W. Broad St.
IDAHOEMPORIUM.COM Let’s restate the obvious: Shopping online in your skivvies totally beats out fighting crazed mall mobs. But if you’re one of those anti-Amazon types who prefers to spend your holiday bucks supporting local businesses, your online shopidahoemporium.com ping options are fairly slim. Well, now there’s good news for pants-objectors who prefer to check off their Christmas lists without leaving the confines of their toasty homes: idahoemporium.com. Idahoemporium.com boasts an array of items, including rustic earrings, Idaho-shaped cutting boards, sugar body scrubs, domino-topped step stools and sweet hot tomato chutney, all made by Idaho artisans. “We handpick our products from across the state to ensure our selection is eclectic, always fresh and of the highest quality,” according to the website. Some highlights include mason jar wine glasses ($39.99, set of four) from Ghetto Homes and Construction, billed as a “unique gift suited for your friends and relatives, especially the ones with a love for all things redneck.” You can also snag an upcycled notebook with a Bladerunner or Sixteen Candles VHS cover made by Swinging Martini’s Designs. This holiday, if you’re looking for unique, handmade goods from Idaho, idahoemporium.com is a great place to star t. —Kat Thornton
an event by e-mail to calendar@boiseweekly.com. Listings are due by noon the Thursday before publication.
WWW. B OISEWEEKLY.C O M
BOISEweekly | DECEMBER 7–13, 2011 | 13