Yet another Nutcracker in the area! There is NO EXCUSE to miss this classical holiday ballet! And this 90-minute version is geared to children 5 and up:
METROPOLITAN REPERTORY BALLET IN THE NUTCRACKER SUITE
WHEN: Thursday, December 16, at 7:30 PM
WHERE: 
Bloomfield College Westminster Arts Center (BCWAC), 449 Franklin Street (at the corner of Franklin and Fremont Streets) in Bloomfield
TICKETS: $20 and Seniors/Students(w/ID) $15. To make reservations please call 973.748.9008, x279 –or online at www.bccommunity.org/westminster
This famous two-act ballet was originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. This Russian version of The Nutcracker Suite is based on the original production which was commissioned by Tsar Nicholas II in the latter part of the 19th century and performed by the Kirov Ballet.
The libretto is adapted from the story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E. T. A. Hoffmann, and is the story of a young girl coming of age. During the 19th century most girls were married in their teens and so, traditionally, the ballerina dances the role of Marcia as she foresees herself as a woman in her dream. Marcia is then transformed into the Sugar Plum Fairy, and at the end of the ballet she returns to being young Marcia. To this day in Russia, Ukraine and all over Europe, this is the standard version, where the original divertissements representing the dolls that Marcia received as gifts come to life, i.e., the Arabian and Chinese dolls. The Metropolitan Repertory Ballet is Russian-based and adheres to the European genre of dance.
“We know that there are different choices when patrons make plans to bring their families out this time of year, to see various holiday performances,” says Greg Allen, BCWAC Managing Director. “We offer this rarely seen European version of The Nutcracker Suite, performed in less than 90 minutes, to our patrons with an earlier curtain time because it’s being performed on a Thursday evening. Also, we want to make sure they bring the entire family, especially children ages 5 and up, because there will be an opportunity for the children to be on stage during the start of the program.”
