VISIONS OF `NUTCRACKERS'.Byline: Vicki Smith Paluch Correspondent Just as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade marks the official start of the holiday shopping season, Tchaikovsky's ``Nutcracker'' ballet score heralds the coming of Christmas. The timeless ballet tells the story of a little girl, Clara, whose family hosts a magical Christmas Eve party and causes the little girl to have the most fantastic dreams. She is joined by her magical godfather, Drosselmeyer; her beloved gift, a Nutcracker; and her journey to the land of sweets with her Nutcracker prince. The ballet was originally choreographed in 1792 by Lev lev-, pref See levo-. Ivanov with libretto libretto (ləbrĕt`ō) [Ital.,=little book], the text of an opera or an oratorio. Although a play usually emphasizes an integrated plot, a libretto is most often a loose plot connecting a series of episodes. by Marius Petipa Marius Ivanovich Petipa (ru. Мариус Иванович Петипа) (born Victor Marius Alphonse Petipa on 11 March, 1818 in Marseille, France - died in Gurzuf in the Crimea, , which he based on the E.T.A. Hoffmann story. This season, ``The Nutcracker will be performed by numerous companies, including Pasadena Dance Theatre and Media City Ballet, which have been delighting local audiences for years. This season will also include productions by companies new to the Southland -- Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Ballet, Master Class International's Bolshoi Ballet Bolshoi Ballet (bōl`shoi, bôl`–), one of the principal ballet companies of Russia; part of the Bolshoi Theater, which also includes Russia's premier opera company. Academy and the St. Petersburg Ballet. Because the music is as important as the dancing, several productions will feature live orchestras, including ``The Nutcracker'' productions of Los Angeles Ballet, Media City Ballet and the St. Petersburg Ballet. Celebrating its fifth season, Burbank-based Media City Ballet will perform ``The Nutcracker'' to the accompaniment of the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of conductor James Domine, with the Taft High School Vocal Ensemble, directed by Tom Pease. While most of the productions keep close to the ballet's traditional story line and solos depicting sweets and toys, Los Angeles Ballet will put a Southern Californian spin on the traditional story. The ballet, choreographed by artistic directors Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary, takes place in 1912 in a classic Spanish-style home with Mexican, Spanish and European influences. ``When `The Nutcracker' is done well, it's just like a book of fairy tales This is a list of fairy tales, the dates of their earliest known printed version, the author and, if known, the collection of tales in which it was published. It should be noted, however, that not all stories listed below would be categorized as fairy tales by a strict definition coming to life,'' said Julia Moon, the general director of the Seoul-based Universal Ballet. Here's a listing of ``Nutcracker'' productions being stage throughout the Southland. < Westside Ballet at Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway Pacific Coast Highway may refer to:
< Universal Ballet at the Shrine Auditorium, 665 W. Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles. Performances 8 p.m. Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 2-3. $33-$97. (213) 480-3232 or www.ticketmaster.com Ballet Petit Performing Arts Center A performing arts center, often abbreviated PAC, is a multi-use performance space that can be adapted for use by various types of the performing arts, including dance, music and theatre. at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Performances 7 p.m. Dec. 2, 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 3. $20-$28. (818) 243-2539 or www.alextheatre.org Los Angeles Ballet with live orchestra at Wilshire Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. Performances 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 2, 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 3. $35-$95. (310) 998-7782 or www.losangelesballet.org Media City Ballet with the San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Performances 8 p.m. Dec. 8, 2 p.m. Dec. 9-10. $18- $40. 818-243-2539, or www.alextheatre.org Westside Ballet at Wadworth Theatre, 11301 Wilshire Blvd., West Los Angeles
St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre The ST Petersburg Ballet Theatre was founded in 1994 by russian entrepineur Konstantin Tachkin, for the sole purpose of delivering classical russian ballet to audiences worldwide who otherwise would not have the chance to see it. with the Pacific Symphony at the Orange County Performing Arts Center The Orange County Performing Arts Center is a performing arts complex located in Costa Mesa, California. It is the home of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Opera Pacific, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County and the Pacific Chorale. , 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Performances 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12-16, 2 p.m. Dec. 16-17. $25-$85. (714) 556-2787 or www.ocpac.org Le Studio Dance's ``Clara's Dream'' at Pasadena City College, 1570 E. Colorado Blvd. Performances 2 and 5 p.m. Dec. 16-17. $15-$30. (626) 792-4616, or www.lestudiodance.com Bolshoi Ballet Academy at Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E. Green St. Performances 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21-23, 2 p.m. Dec. 23-24. $23.75-$53 for adults, $14.25-$43 for children. (213) 480-3232 or www.ticketmaster.com Los Angeles Ballet with live orchestra at Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach. Performances 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 23, 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 24. $35-$95. (310) 998-7782 or www.losangelesballet.org Los Angeles Ballet with live orchestra at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Performances 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 30, 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 31. $35-$95. (310) 9987782 or www.losangelesballet.org CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Peter Snow and Erin Rivera-Brennand will appear in the Los Angeles Ballet's ``Nutcracker,'' with performances throughout December. |
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