‘The Nutcracker,’ an annual Hilton Head tradition, delights and inspires / Review
A favorite bellwether of the advancing holiday season, the classic Nutcracker Ballet presented by the Hilton Head Dance Theatre, celebrated a spectacular opening night Friday at the Seahawk Cultural Center. The storied Lowcountry presentation of this famed holiday favorite is now beyond its 35th year. It passed by kind of unheralded last year, a result of the impact of COVID-19.
The Nutcracker’s universal appeal is both the delightful folk tale by E.T.A. Hoffman and the music, composed by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Marie, a young girl, receives a magical nutcracker for Christmas and dreams of a nutcracker prince.
Along the way, she finds a palace overrun by mice, and more! Rife with magical spells, the story introduces the audience to characters such as Herr Drosselmeyer and The Mouse King, and journeys to far-flung destinations through the Snow Forest to the Land of Sweets. There, we get an up-close view of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
These fascinating people pop up periodically, and are set against a real-life family, their children, the people who support their household, and friends as they all prepare to celebrate Christmas.
The first of the two-act performance introduces not only the party guests, but astonishing dancers who are wind-up dolls, toy soldiers, Nutcracker royalty and baby mice. In the Snow Forest, you meet the Snow Queen and King and lots of Snowflakes and Petite Snowflakes.
Act Two takes us to the Land of Sweets, where you’ll thoroughly enjoy the Sugar Plum fairy, the chefs, even the food groups right down to the tiramisu and English crackers. There are candy canes and a Dew Drop Fairy and her Cavalier, and flowers, of course.
The players
The cast who delivered this top-notch classical Nutcracker Ballet was astonishing. The seniors, lithe, lined and powerful, floated gracefully through jumps and turns. The dancers exhibited amazing concentration, control and presence. The tiniest of the little dancers were on it, too. Showstoppers, all.
Other factors which took this show over the top were the attention to detail, in all categories: the choreography, costume design, puppetry, production design, technical direction, lighting and set design and scenic paintings. The seamstresses who designed and fashioned the headpieces were simply beyond perfect. In every case, right down to a mouse whisker!
This production is positively magical. At the core of the brilliance are Artistic Director Karena Brock-Carlyle and Artistic Director John Carlyle , husband and wife, who share an impressive background in ballet as dancers as well as teachers. They each have important associations with the American Ballet Theatre. The two are founders of the Hilton Head Dance School.
Ballet Mistress Katie Girardi actually took her first ballet class at Hilton Head Dance School in 1987. She has a degree in Dance Performance and Arts Administration, and also has participated in a variety of programs of the American Ballet Theatre.
Ballet Master Jamal Edwards began his training at Hilton Head Dance School when he was 13. A graduate of Hilton Head Christian Academy, and the University of Alabama, he teaches ballet, tap and jazz, and also is an ABT certified teacher.
Another group of people who must be recognized: the parents, families and friends who offer important support to the students of the Hilton Head Dance School and these inspired performances of The Nutcracker Ballet.
The Nutcracker
Seahawk Cultural Center
7:30 p.m. Nov. 19-20; 2:30 p.m. Nov. 21.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.hiltonheaddance.com or call (843) 842-3262.