THE GAZETTE
Wednesday, December 11, 2013 p
Page B-7
Sugar Plum Fairies everywhere! Venues celebrate with ballet standard Ballet written more than 120 years ago still popular today
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BY
WILL C. FRANKLIN STAFF WRITER
Fresh off the success of the ballet “The Sleeping Beauty” in 1890, Pyotr Tchaikovsky was commissioned to write a double-bill program that featured a ballet and an opera. The opera would be called “Iolanta,” while the ballet became a classic staple of the Christmas season. Based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” Tchaikovsky and his partner Marius Petipa put together what is now known as “The Nutcracker.” Just in time for the holiday season, several area venues will present their versions of the popular tradition. The ballet tells the story of young Clara who dreams a toy nutcracker comes to life and goes to war with gingerbread soldiers against the mice. After defeating the mice, the nutcracker, who becomes a prince, and Clara travel to the Land of Sweets to celebrate. At the Olney Theatre Center, the Olney Ballet Company will present Mary Day’s version of “The Nutcracker,” with student dancers from area ballet schools performing with professional guest dancers. Mary Day is the founder of the Washington Ballet while Patricia Derrend, who served for 20 years as répétiteur for Day’s “Nutcracker,” is at the helm as director. “In a nutshell — pun intended — we combine the skills of about 90 student dancers
The Nutcracker defends Clara-Marie against the Mouse King and his minions in The Puppet Co.’s presentation of “The Nutcracker.” with guest professionals from around the country to do Mary Day’s classic [‘Nutcracker’],” said Olney Ballet Theatre president Royal Dellinger. “Miss Day founded the Washington Ballet and choreographed this ballet over 50 years ago.” Olney’s “Nutcracker” opens on Friday and runs through Christmas Eve. Ticket prices range from $15 to $45. For more information, visit olneyballettheatre.org or call 301-774-9850.
Meanwhile, in North Bethesda, the Music Center at Strathmore will host the Moscow Ballet’s production of “The Great Russian Nutcracker.” The company of 40 awardwinning dancers brings a Russian flair to the show with leaps aplenty. “The Great Russian Nutcracker,” is set to run at 7:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. Ticket prices vary from $28 to $88. Visit Strathmore.org or call 301-581-
5100 for more information. Continuing the tradition of performing the full-length staging of the show, the Metropolitan Ballet Theatre and Academy will present “The Nutcracker” at the Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center at Montgomery College in Rockville. The Metropolitan Ballet has presented the show in its entirety every year since 1989. Student and professional dancers alike work together on stage
CHRISTOPHER PIPER
to bring the story to life. The Metropolitan Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker” will end its run this weekend with a 7 p.m. performance on Friday and 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. shows on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets range in price from $17 to $25. For more information, visit their website at mbtdance.org or call 301-762-1757. Montgomery College is home to two Nutcracker shows this year. The Maryland Youth
Ballet out of Silver Spring will perform “The Nutcracker” at the E. Parilla Performing Arts Center Dec. 21-23 and Dec. 26-28. Tickets for the show vary in price from $23 to $33. For more information, visit marylandyouthballet.org, montgomerycollege. edu/PAC or call 240-567-5301. For a different spin, the Puppet Co. in Glen Echo blends marionettes with costumed characters in what is the company’s 25th anniversary of “The Nutcracker.” Actors dressed as mice, Clara and even the nutcracker interact with puppets on stage while they tell the story of “The Nutcracker.” The show is recommended for ages 5 and up, but is suitable for the whole family. Tickets for the show, which runs from now until Dec. 29 are $10. Times for the show range from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., so be sure to visit the website at thepuppetco. org or call their box office at 201634-5380 for exact times. In Prince George’s County, the University of Maryland’s Ballet Company M will present its version of “The Nutcracker” at 7 p.m. on Saturday in the Dance Theatre at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center in College Park. Ballet Company M will perform the second act of “The Nutcracker,” where they will take the audience on a journey through the Forest of the Snowflakes to the Land of Sweets. Tickets for the show are free, but seating is limited, so folks are encouraged to get the tickets as soon as possible. Visit claricesmithcenter.umd.edu or call 301-405-2787 for tickets or for more information. wfranklin@gazette.net
IN THE ARTS DANCES Hollywood Ballroom, Dec. 11, International and Standard Latin Night with Paul Huston, workshop from 7:30-8:30 p.m., dance from 8:30–11 p.m. ($16), Dec. 12, 19, Tea Dance from 12:30-3:30 p.m. ($6); Dec. 13, drop-in lessons from 7:309:30 p.m., West Coast Swing Dancing with Dance Jam Productions at 9 p.m. ($15); Dec. 14, Rumba lesson at 7:30 p.m., Social Ballroom dance at 8:30 p.m. with Helmut Licht Big Band ($25 in advance, $30 at door); Dec. 15, free Tango lesson at 7 p.m., Social Ballroom Dance at 8 p.m. ($16); Dec. 18, International and Standard Latin Night with Paul Huston, workshop from 7:308:30 p.m., dance from 8:30-11 p.m. ($16), 2126 Industrial Highway, Silver Spring, 301-326-1181, www. hollywoodballroomdc.com Glen Echo Park is at 7300 MacArthur Blvd. Blues, Capital Blues: Thurs-
days, 8:15 p.m. beginner lesson, 9-11:30 p.m. dancing to DJs, Glen Echo Park’s Spanish Ballroom Annex, $8, www.capitalblues.org. Contra, Dec. 6, Adina Gordon calls to Maivish; Dec. 13, Warren Doyle with the fabulous Glen Echo Open Band; Dec. 20, Sargon de Jesus calls to Morrison Brothers; Dec. 27, Bob Isaacs with Perpetual e-Motion, 7:30 p.m. lesson, 8:30 p.m. dance, Glen Echo Park Spanish Ballroom, $10, www.fridaynightdance.org. Contra & Square, Dec. 15, Susan Taylor with Sligo Creek Stompers; Dec. 22, Janine Smith calls with Morrison Brothers Band; Dec.
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29, Anna Rain with Perpetual eMotion, 7:30 p.m., Glen Echo Park Spanish Ballroom, $12 for general, $9 for members, $5 for students, www.fsgw.org. English Country, Dec. 11, Caller: Liz Donaldson; Dec. 18, Caller: Anna Rain, 8 p.m., Glen Echo Town Hall (upstairs), www. fsgw.org. Now and Then Dance Studio, Saturday ballroom dances, second and fourth Saturdays, beginner group lesson at 8 p.m., open dancing at 9 p.m., $10 cash at door (all men admitted at halfprice throughout October), 10111 Darnestown Road, Rockville. 301424-0007, www.nowandthendancestudios.com. Scottish Country Dancing, 8-10 p.m. Mondays, steps and formations taught. No experience, partner necessary, T-39 Building on NIH campus, Wisconsin Avenue and South Drive, Bethesda, 240505-0339. Swing, Dec. 14, Daryl Davis, lesson at 8 p.m., dancing at 9 p.m., Glen Echo Park, $15, www.flyingfeet.org. Waltz, Dec. 15, Sugar Beat; Dec. 29, Terpsichore, 2:45-3:30 p.m. lesson, 3:30-6 p.m., dance, $10, www. waltztimedances.org.
Lounge Christmas, 8 p.m. Dec. 14; Christmas with the Celts, 7 p.m. Dec. 15; Gotta Swing Dance Night with The Cutaways, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18; Joyce Lyons, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19; Holiday Tango concert with Roberto Pomili Orchestra, 8:30 p.m. Dec. 20, call for prices, 7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. 240330-4500, www.bethesdabluesjazz.com. BlackRock Center for the Arts, Holiday Swing with Daryl Davis and Gotta Swing, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19, call for tickets, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown. 301-528-2260, www.blackrockcenter.org. Fillmore Silver Spring, Sara Bareilles and Gavin DeGraw, 7 p.m. Dec. 11; Steve Winwood with Cris Jacobs, 8 p.m. Dec. 12; Gary Allan WMZQ Concert for Kids w/ Cole Swindell and special guests, 8 p.m. Dec. 13; Andrew Dice Clay, 8 p.m. Dec. 15, 8656 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, 301-960-9999, FillmoreSilverSpring.com, www. livenation.com. Institute of Musical Traditions
— Takoma Park, Ensemble Galilei,
7:30 p.m. Dec. 20, Takoma Park Community Center, call for prices, times, Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave., Takoma Park, 301-960-3655, www.imtfolk. org.
Reeves - Christmas Jazz Songs, 11 a.m. Dec. 20; Ricky Skaggs, 8 p.m. Dec. 20; The Irish Tenors: The Premiere Irish Holiday Celebration Tour, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Dec. 21; National Philharmonic:
Institute of Musical Traditions — Rockville, TBA, Saint Mark
Presbyterian Church, 10701 Old Georgetown Road, Rockville, call for prices, www.imtfolk.org. Strathmore, Afternoon/Specialty Teas, 1 p.m. Dec. 11, 18, 28; Zemer Chai: The Jewish Community Choir of Washington, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11, 7 p.m. Dec. 15; BSO: Holiday Cirque, 8 p.m. Dec. 12; Spanish Harlem Orchestra: Salsa Navidad, 8 p.m. Dec. 13; Friday Night Eclectic: San Fermin, 8 p.m. Dec. 13; Miniatures Workshop, 10 a.m. Dec. 14; National Philharmonic: Handel’s Messiah, 8 p.m. Dec. 14, 3 p.m. Dec. 15; Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17; Coral Cantigas, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18; The Washington Chorus: A Candlelight Christmas, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19, 23; AIR: Integriti
MUSIC & DANCE Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, The Artie Shaw Orchestra
with Swingtopia, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 11; James Bazen Big Band — Merry Christmas Take One, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12; The Marsh Brothers Band, 8 p.m. Dec. 13; A Very Chaise
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Washington Symphonic Brass, 4 p.m. Dec. 22; Bohemian Caverns Jazz, 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 22; Salute to Vienna, 3 p.m. Dec. 29,
See IN THE ARTS, Page B-8