A Holiday Tradition En Pointe

The Nutcracker is one of the most notable holiday staples in all of ballet. Through its angelic symphony, classic choreography, and its magical touch of the Christmas spirit, the Nutcracker is a show you won’t want to miss during the winter season. 

But it’s not merely a Christmas tradition, it's a crucial aspect of the Seattle community. At the Vashon Center for the Arts, the performance was built on the extensive efforts from community members, truly supplying the foundations of the magical wonderland that makes the Nutcracker so special to so many families around the Seattle area. This beloved holiday tradition, due to its magical Christmas setting, its role in popularizing German nutcracker toys, and its function as a family tradition introducing generations to ballet and classical music, is regarded as a cultural fixture in the holiday season. It is beautiful and heartwarming to see parents who once attended the ballet as children now bringing their own, demonstrating just how vital this cultural cornerstone is to Seattle families.

The show was performed by the Blue Heron Dance Company in addition to ballet students from Vashon Center for Dance and several guest performers, emphasizing the strong sense of community behind the production. The story follows the adventurous evening of Clara Stahlbaum, a young, innocent girl unaware of what the future holds. After her mysterious godfather gifts her a toy nutcracker, her Christmas Eve transforms into a magical dream: the nutcracker her godfather gifted her comes to life, battles the Mouse King, is then crowned a prince, and leads Clara on a wonderful and unexpected journey from her family’s living room to a fantastical dreamworld through a snowy, enchanted forest. Clara then visits the Kingdom of Sweets, where she culminates in a magnificent celebration hosted by the Sugar Plum Fairy. In this celebration, performances are held by diverse global cultures and delicacies prized in the 19th century, representing themes of cultural exchange and communal curiosities about the wider world. These performances include several dances: a fiery Spanish chocolate, Arabian coffee, the Dewdrop Fairy, the Sugar Plum Fairy, Marzipan, the Grand Waltz of the Flowers, Chinese Tea, Polichinelle, and the Mirlitons. Not to mention the prince, with whom she falls into a sweet and pure romance that warms the hearts of the audience and reinforces the ballet’s emphasis on connection and unity.

Furthermore, behind the dancers gliding across the stage in perfect synchrony, what further captivates the audience is the historic and iconic soundtrack developed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky around 1891. Composed of a large symphony orchestra—featuring strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, and the distinctive celesta keyboard—the classic score reflects the importance of community, uniting dancers, musicians, and audience members through a shared artistic experience that establishes The Nutcracker’s ethereal fairy-tale atmosphere.

But tying the performance all together is its seamless choreography. The melodic beats provided by the celesta served as the perfect background for the pirouettes and the complex pointe-work of many of the dancers, including the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Mirlitons. Furthermore, The Nutcracker’s energetic folk-inspired Trepak—a Russian/Ukranian dance known for its fast, twisting jumps and high kicks—embodied an eccentric individuality. Most notably, his dance sequence involving a “coupé jeté en tournant” was a captivating moment bringing an exciting dynamic motion to the performance and evoking a sense of awe and exhilaration into the audience. And it’s hard to forget the Arabian Coffee, who demonstrated incredible balance and flexibility, in addition to displaying a deep and passionate solo. Of course, each performer showed unforgettable talent, and it’s important to recognize everyone who contributed to this spectacular show, on and off the stage.

Yet, despite its spirited and graceful choreo, the nostalgic and soothing music, and all of its distinctive and captivating elements, the most crucial and memorable aspect of this performance was the community of dancers, choreographers, backstage staff, and audience members. It was a heartening feeling of togetherness that uplifted spirits during, before, and after the show. Although there are techniques, approaches, and little slip-ups that could be perfected, what came out most prominently from this experience was the community The Nutcracker inspired and continues to build upon.

Lead photo courtesy of Vashon Center for the Arts.

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