“There are many new pieces to The Nutcracker Reimagined this year” – Andrea Purrenhage, Owner of Mount Pleasant School of Dance, and Artistic Director of The Nutcracker Reimagined.
The Mount Pleasant School of Dance will be gracing the stage with magical performances of The Nutcracker Reimagined. This show is an annual performance for the dancers at Mount Pleasant School of Dance. The nutcracker will be taking place December 6th-8th. Tickets go on sale November 1st.
This show is an annual performance for the dancers at Mount Pleasant School of Dance. The Nutcracker is a famous ballet that I am sure you have heard of, if not seen. But, what if we reimagined it and included styles of dance that are not ballet? Well that is exactly what Artistic Director Andrea Purrenhage was thinking when she initially created this show. The Nutcracker Reimagined is the same great ballet that we all love, set to the same musicwith all the same parts and scenes, but… incorporating different styles of dance.
There are also many new elements in the Nutcracker this year. This year they have changed the ages of the dancers of some pieces. This year the mice and soldiers in the battle scene are older than they have been in the past. That way the younger students get the amazing opportunity to perform during the snow scene. They have also changed the styles of some pieces. This year Marzipan is tap for the first time ever. In the past Marzipan has been strictly ballet. There are also some new amazing costumes that they are excited for you to see.
Students at MPHS will be performing many of the major roles throughout the show. Andrew Kequom, a senior at Mount Pleasant High School plays the roles of Drosselmeyer and the Arabian Prince. Claire Vogel, another senior at Mount Pleasant High School plays the roles of the Columbine Doll, a soldier in the battle scene, and the Dew Drop Fairy. Olivia Bean, a freshman at Mount Pleasant High School plays the roles of an Icicle in the snow scene, and a flower in the waltz of the flowers. Sophia Astley, a freshman at Mount Pleasant High School is a Spanish Chocolate dancer, soldier in the battle scene, and a Flower in waltz of the flowers.
The magic of the nutcracker however, is also not just the dancing, for the audience it is the story that the dancers so graciously show them through movement. The story opens with the party scene which begins in Clara’s home all of her cousins and family friends at the party. Clara’s Godfather brings her a nutcracker doll as a gift, later that night when she falls fast asleep she wakes up and everything has grown, the mice have grown and the christmas tree as well as the nutcracker soldier. The Nutcracker and the Rat King have a battle. Later she travels through the land of snow and ice to the land of sweets where all the different countries gift her their dance and the sweet that they represent. Afterwards Clara Says goodbye to the Sugar Plum Fairy and all the sweets she meets, and wakes up wondering if it all was a dream.
For the dancers the most special part of the nutcracker is bringing The Nutcracker magic to all people who come to see the show. For more information and for tickets visit the ticketing website to purchase. There are multiple shows and tickets go on sale Friday Nov. 1st. The dancers hope to see you there.
