More than 175 dancers of all ages — from community members to students from Pioneer Valley Ballet — will dance to “The Nutcracker” on Northampton’s Academy of Music stage this weekend.
Six performances begin Friday, Dec. 8, at 4 p.m. (with a special sensory performance) and 7 p.m., and continue Dec. 9 at 1 and 4:30 p.m., concluding on Dec. 10 at 1 and 4:30 p.m. Tickets range from $23 to $45 plus service fees.
First performed in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1892, “The Nutcracker” is a ballet for all those who love the magic of theater, dance and the music of Tchaikovsky. Audiences will travel with Clara as she battles the Rat King to save the Nutcracker Prince, journeying to the enchanted Snow Forest and beautiful Kingdom of Sweets.
Under the direction of co-artistic directors Maryanne Kodzis and Thomas Vacanti, Vacanti said “The Nutcracker,” which they both performed in during their early days in dance, is a “rite of passage for any ballet dancer.”
“‘The Nutcracker’ tends to be any dancer’s first experience in a large production with many professional dancers on stage,” Vacanti said.
“So many things” make “The Nutcracker” special, noted the artistic director.
“In particular, as a young dancer it is a production you are involved in right around the holidays and there is a lot of magic surrounding it. You can’t beat the score, the music is just so beautiful. If you talk to most older dancers, the score becomes ingrained and they will tell you that they can sing their way through every part of the show,” he said.
The artistic director noted that along with Kodzis, they like to keep the production of “The Nutcracker” fresh for audiences, who come to expect to see something new and different from the previous year’s performance.
“We have rechoreographed the Snow Scene and added more to the beginning of the second act when the angels arrive, as well as added a new character called Chef Pierre. He brings the younger candy canes and gingerbreads to greet Clara,” Vacanti said.
Vacanti noted that “The Nutcracker” is not only a good introduction for young dancers to perform in a large production, but one for young audiences as well.
“The music is familiar to many and the show is action-packed and tailored to young audiences to really engage them in the story, our elaborate production, and to the world of ballet,” Vacanti said.
While attending productions of “The Nutcracker” is a holiday tradition for many families, part of the tradition for Vacanti and Kodzis is welcoming back dancers from Carolina Ballet each year.
“Dancers from Carolina Ballet in Raleigh have been coming here to perform with us for 18 years since we started to direct ‘The Nutcracker’ for Pioneer Valley Ballet. We are so lucky to have them. Jan Burkhard is the ultimate Sugar Plum Fairy and has brought her talents to that role with us for well over a decade,” Vacanti said.
First introduced by Pioneer Valley Ballet in 2017, the Sensory and Family Safe performance on Dec. 8 at 4 p.m. runs for one hour with no intermission and offers reduced sound levels and lighting contrast. Seating for this performance is general admission.
Tickets can be purchased at the Academy of Music Theatre Box Office online at aomtheatre.com, in person at 274 Main St. in downtown Northampton, or by calling 413-584-9032, ext.105. The box office is open Tuesday to Friday from 3 to 6 p.m., and also opens one hour before each performance.
