Ballet �toile presents Land of the Sweets: A Nutcracker Fantasy

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Sunday, December 28th, 2014
7:30 PM to 8:45 PM

Ballet Étoile: Victoria’s NEW professional ballet company presents ‘The Land of the Sweets: A Nutcracker Fantasy’.

Last year’s original production is back by popular demand but we’ve added MORE dancers, MORE dances, MORE performances, and MORE venues!

Ballet Étoile’s magical ‘Nutcracker Fantasy’ is set to the traditional Tchaikovsky score as well as Duke Ellington’s jazz arrangement of the dances from the Land of the Sweets. From the Russian Trepak to the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Ellington’s renditions keep Tchaikovsky’s familiar melodies while adding an upbeat flare that infuses the music with a unique spirit and joviality, perfect for the Nutcracker. The cast is comprised of seasoned professional dancers, pre-professional dancers from the Victoria Academy of Ballet, as well as local children. Stunning costumes and specially designed scenic bring this production to life.

A Christmas classic with a twist, ‘The Land of the Sweets’ closely follows the traditional Nutcracker ballet story, with a few changes. An evil Snow Queen replaces the usual Mouse King as the story’s antagonist. Jealous of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Prince, the Snow Queen has cast a wicked spell, turning the Prince into a Nutcracker. The spell can only be broken by one who is truly selfless and pure of heart, someone the Snow Queen is sure could never exist. Here is where Clara comes into the picture. Despite being neglected by her narcissistic, arrogant parents, Clara remains unjaded and kind, a favorite of her magical uncle Drosselmeyer. Knowing that Clara is the only one who can break the spell, Drosselmeyer gives her the enchanted Nutcracker as a Christmas present. Highlights include a tap dancing maid, a magical battle, and most notably the jazzy, upbeat dances performed by the citizens from the ‘Land of the Sweets.’

With a running length of 70 minutes this Nutcracker offering is fast-paced and to-the-point. It is perfect for young audiences, and for those who don’t usually frequent the ballet.

This year’s ‘Land of the Sweets’ will be Ballet Étoile’s sixth production at Berwick Theatre and the first at Metro Studio Theatre since the company opened in the spring of 2013. Their last production, the very popular ‘The Red Shoes’, was performed to sold-out houses in November.

For more information please contact Ashley Evans at (250) 216-2849 or [email protected].

TICKETS: http://ticketrocket.org/2014/04/12/land-of-the-sweets/ or at the door, cash only.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ballet-%C3%89toile-Canada/462781723805325

WEB: http://balletetoilecanada.com/