BRAVISSIMO
Reviews…is a community service of
BRAVO San Diego
Bravissimo
Mini-REVIEWS
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REVIEW Commentary (** As seen, 12/22/07 Matinee):
REVIEW Commentary (** As seen, 12/22/07 Matinee):
SAN DIEGO Ballet Company
Mandeville
Auditorium
THE
NUTCRACKER
Mega-draw for
Kids!
San
Diego
Ballet’s
THE NUTCRACKER, as Co-directed and choreographed
by Robin Morgan and Javier Velasco is performed to
music-tracks, and is interpreted by Velasco and Morgan a bit different from other
productions, with Velasco (himself) playing DROSSELMAYER (sinister and manipulative, with
nary-a-smile, black-cape-and-all…truly the ‘dark’ side). The traditional
prologue scene of DROSSELMAYER introducing the ‘Nutcracker doll’ was deleted, but the
joyous ‘opening party’ scene was very
up-beat, with kids-a-plenty, a minimum of actual dance, but the usual jump-start
of the MICE scene was a bit scattered. Photo
by RA
Co-sponsored by the Division of
Arts & Humanities (UCSD), San Diego
Ballet’s THE NUTCRACKER whose strong points
were the soloists themselves, included the opening Party Scene with Margo van den Helder (as CLARA) and Dylan Smith (as her Nephew/PRINCE); the SNOW KING
& QUEEN played very well by Pal Udvarhelyi and Abby
Avery, who in the second act, then reappear as the SHEPHERD and
SHEPHERDESS; and then solo Russian Cossack dancer Askar Kettebekov doing it alone (and, doing it well) with female Russian
Cossacks, and then of course a pompous Ted
Barduson (in drag, as MOTHER
GINGER). Petite Japanese dancer Hiroko Hiro pranced in-and-out (as BLUEBELL), and though showing some
good training, has a while to go before emerging as a true ballerina. San Diego Ballet’s high-point for the audience, came
with the Arabian Coffee segment, richly brewed by Rachel Sebastian and Ted
Blevins, with more than adequate cream-and-sugar support from six
Arabian dancers. The crowning ‘star-turn’ however of this NUTCRACKER was the Grand-Pas-de-Deux
by the SUGAR PLUM FAIRY Chelsy Meiss and her CAVALIER Askar Alimbetov, both displaying
excellent technique, as well as pleasurable ‘emotion’ between them (they even looked at each other), and
they excelled in some wonderful ballet ‘moments’ of virtuoso-technique! Some of
co-choreographer’s Robin Morgan and Javier Velasco’s best work showed itself with their
12-dancer Corps-de-Ballet. The audience, truly enjoyed themselves, and gave San Diego Ballet good reason to do it
all over again…next year!
Director Javier
VelascoWith Ballerina
Chelsy Meiss
Photo by RA
‘San Diego Ballet’s mission is to excite,
enrich and entertain the diverse community, through an imaginative presentation
of quality classical and contemporary dance’. For information on future performances,
ballet classes, etc…call (619)
294-7378, or go online at www.sandiegoballet.org.
Note: This year, there is no
review coverage for City Ballet of
San Diego’s performances of THE
NUTCRACKER
Performing Arts
Columnist ROB APPEL, with a MA in
Theatre Arts and a Doctorate in Dance, and some 4,000 productions over 44 years
as a dancer, choreographer, director and producer around the world, is known
locally as the Founder/Producer, for 9-years of BRAVO SAN DIEGO,
along with 8-years
producing SUMMERQUEST and numerous other
nonprofit gala
events!
Email Rob Appel
at
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