Michelle Dorrance, Hannah Heller, Josette Wiggan/The Nutcracker Suite (Bay Area Premiere) (music: Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s interpretation of the Tchaikovsky score)
Tap dance meets jazz rhythms in Dorrance Dance’s production of this holiday classic. Danced to Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s jazz interpretation of the classic Tchaikovsky score, The Nutcracker Suite boogies, slides, struts, and dives through the magical story of a young girl and her fantastical Christmas adventure. Along with collaborators Hannah Heller and Josette Wiggan, artistic director Michelle Dorrance gives the ballet’s pageant of national dances a 21st-century twist as the Sugar Plum Fairy transforms into a slinky Sugar Rum Cherry and the “March of the Toy Soldiers” becomes a swinging brass “Peanut Brittle Brigade” romp, among other creative inventions.
Live audio descriptions for blind and visually impaired audience members are available for the Sunday, December 1 performance. Headsets may be reserved by contacting the Cal Performances Ticket Office at (510) 642-9988 or [email protected].