PALMDALE 'NUTCRACKER' GOES JAZZY.Byline: Daily News PALMDALE - The traditional and not so traditional will meet this week on the Palmdale Playhouse stage. The classic story ``Cinderella'' will be performed by ballet dancers from the Palmdale Youth and Community dance company, while the traditional ballet ``The Nutcracker'' has been transformed into lively tap and jazz numbers in Cathy Roe's rendition ren·di·tion n. 1. The act of rendering. 2. An interpretation of a musical score or a dramatic piece. 3. A performance of a musical or dramatic work. 4. A translation, often interpretive. , ``Nutcracker nutcracker, common name for a small crow of the genus Nucifraga in the family Corvidae (crow family). The Old World nutcracker (N. caryocatactes) is found throughout the colder regions of Europe, including high mountain forests. All Jazzed Up.'' Tap and jazz director Robyn Reed said the difference between ballets and jazz and tap dances is that ballets typically have story lines, while the other dances don't; it was a treat for her to be able to acquaint other nonballet dancers with the classic story. ``Much as I love the traditional ballet style, being the jazz and tap director, I always thought it would be fun for the jazz and tap dancers to do a different version of 'The Nutcracker,''' said Reed. ``It's very different. It's been a very big challenge to put this show together.'' The jazz group at the playhouse has 15 members, and there are 10 tappers. Together they will present 10 dances from ``Nutcracker.'' ``I know it's going to be different. I know that traditional 'Nutcracker' devotees are not going to like it, but I hope that they will at least enjoy it as it is and have fun with it,'' said Reed. ``There are a surprising number of people who know of 'Nutcracker'; they have a general idea there's a girl, there's a nutcracker, but that's probably as far as it goes for most people, so us being able to tell a little bit of the story and relay that story to them in a different format, I hope they will enjoy it.'' While ``Cinderella'' might not seem to be a typical Christmas story, ballet director Heather Benes finds the classic tale of a good daughter finding her Prince Charming Prince Charming handsome suitor fulfills a maiden’s dreams. [Fr. Fairy Tale: Cinderella] See : Love, Victorious perfect for the holiday season. ``It's a fun story. People like it and it's nice to have something a little different,'' Benes said. ``It's a nice holiday story because Cinderella is a real nice, sweet girl and she just wants someone to love her. Her goodness, her kindness Kindness See also Generosity. Allworthy, Squire Tom Jones’s goodhearted foster father. [Br. Lit. is rewarded. That's a nice holiday message.'' Members of both the performance ballet and beginning ballet groups perform in ``Cinderella,'' as do six boys from the Palmdale City Players Youth division. Two of the boys play the wicked stepsisters and the others play courtiers for the ballerinas. ``It's not unusual to make characters that are caricatures,'' Benes said. ``It is particularly funny and it's very traditional in theater and dance. If you want to make fun of a female character, if you really want it to be a parody parody, mocking imitation in verse or prose of a literary work. The following poem by Robert Southey was parodied by Lewis Carroll: , you get a man to do the part, because they play it very broadly.'' Featured performers for ``Cinderella'' include Kayla Steckel as Cinderella, Robert Irving Robert Irving may refer to:
fulfills Cinderella’s wishes and helps her win the prince. [Fr. Fairy Tale: Cinderella] See : Fairy fairy godmother mythical being who guards children from danger and rewards them for good deeds. , Tenina Pezzini as the stepmother, and Damian Rickman and Ryan Finch finch, common name for members of the Fringillidae, the largest family of birds (including over half the known species), found in most parts of the world except Australia. as the stepsisters. The special guest performer will be Caitlyn Spangle span·gle n. 1. A small, often circular piece of sparkling metal or plastic sewn especially on garments for decoration. 2. A small sparkling object, drop, or spot: spangles of sunlight. . ``Cinderella'' and ``Nutcracker All Jazzed Up'' will be performed at 7:30 p.m. today and 2 p.m. Saturday. The Palmdale Youth and Community Orchestras will perform traditional holiday favorites at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Some of the music will include ``Nutcracker'' pieces, ``Stille Nacht'' and ``Buckaroo Holiday.'' The Palmdale Community Choir and the Palmdale Youth Choir will both perform at 2 p.m. Sunday. This will be the first performance for the newly formed youth choir. The choirs will sing the traditional classics ``White Christmas A white Christmas, to most people in the Northern Hemisphere, refers to snowy weather on Christmas Day. This phenomenon is far more common in some countries than in others. ,'' ``Carol of the Bells'' and ``Joy to the World.'' Tickets to the shows are $7 for adults and $5 for seniors, students, members of the military and children. For more information, call (661) 267-5685. |
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