Oakland Ballet Offers A Unique Nutcracker in so Many Ways

  

The Bay Area is filled with many Nutcracker Ballets, so choosing one can be difficult.  The San Francisco Ballet is the granddaddy of Nutcracker's, having been the first Company in the United States to perform the ballet.  Oakland, however, has made the ballet uniquely a Bay Area experience.  As I watched all the little princesses and princes in the audience, it gave me such joy to know that they could look up on the stage and see the world they will inherit.  One in which there is a place in the dance for everyone; and they can feel confident that everyone of every color can be a prince and a princess.      

  

 

 

Oakland's gift does not stop there.  Ronn Guidi designed a ballet that dazzles a child, yet has hidden and deep meaning for the adults; a true coming of age tale.  Marie's ability to love the odd Nutcracker is rewarded when she falls asleep and he becomes her Prince.  The openness of Marie's heart allows her to enter a world of fantasy and delight.  And there are some bright young stars leaping across the Paramount stage.  The Sugar Plum Fairy and Sugar Plum Cavalier, danced by Gianna Davy and Preston Dugger III, brought this writer to her feet.  The graceful leaps and twirls of Mr. Dugger reminded me a bit of the virile, yet elegant style of Mikhail Baryshnikov. 

 

 

From the festive family party scene and battle of the soldiers and mice to the enchanted lands of China, Arabia, Russia and more, this production continues to win the hearts and minds of young and old.

 Choreography: Ronn Guidi / Music: Tchaikovsky

2:00 pm
Saturday, December 17
Sunday, December 18
Monday, December 19
Tuesday, December 20

7:30 pm
Wednesday, December 21