Thursday, December 5, 1996

DANCE:

Fairy tale of love and familial ties always a favorite, no matter which flavor chosenBy Amanda Miller

Daily Bruin Contributor

Ballet? Classical music? If just the mention of these words evokes a yawn, wake up! The spectacular magic of this season's "The Nutcracker" productions deserves more than a bah-humbug.

In "The Nutcracker," dancers move to a captivating musical score by Tchaikovsky. Together they tell the familiar story of a little girl named Clara and her Christmas adventure with the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Snow Queen and King, the Butterfly and an array of other characters.

This season, several productions of "The Nutcracker" dance through the Los Angeles area. The San Francisco Ballet, the oldest professional ballet company in the United States, has brought its long tradition down south. The Los Angeles Classical Ballet emphasizes spectacular technology and illusions to grab the attention of its L.A. audience. "The Harlem Nutcracker" adds a unique twist to the story, aiming to create a truly American "Nutcracker," set in the legendary era of the Harlem Renaissance during the 1930s.

For many, "The Nutcracker" ranks among Santa, Christmas trees, carols, and gift-giving as an integral part of the holiday season. But it hasn't always been that way.

In fact, although first produced in Europe in 1882, the "Nutcracker" was never produced in its entirety in the U.S. until 1944. Budgeted during World War II at only $1,000, the first "Nutcracker" premiered on Christmas Eve, produced by the San Francisco Ballet.

This year, the San Francisco Ballet's "Nutcracker," has a cast of 177 dancers recruited from dance students in the Bay area. Showing at the Pasadena Civic Center, the San Francisco Ballet portrays a beautiful, old-fashioned type of Christmas, says Anita Pachote, current ballet mistress for the San Francisco Ballet.

Pachote has been with the San Francisco Ballet company since 1968. Building upon a long ballet career, Pachote has had numerous leading and character roles. In this year's "Nutcracker" she is dancing as Clara's mother. As ballet mistress, Pachote rehearses the dancers, with particular responsibility for the children.

"They are very enthusiastic but hard workers. It's an amazing experience for all of us involved; we are transformed, for it is a very thorough production," Pachote says.

The San Francisco Ballet uses impressive special effects; however they are less integral to the ballet than those of the Los Angeles Classical Ballet. Pachote appreciates the special effects, such as a growing 28-foot Christmas tree and visions of dancing sugar plums. But she emphasizes, "Much of it is still just a guy standing behind a curtain pulling a rope. A lot of tradition remains within the technique in which things are done. I love to see how much of the tradition hasn't changed."

Still, Pachote asserts that when it comes to tradition and "The Nutcracker," she "isn't a snob about it." She approves of entertaining variations on Tchaikovsky's original. 'The Nutcracker' offers something for everybody," she asserts.

Though not as well-established as the San Francisco Ballet, the Los Angeles Classical Ballet is nevertheless launching a dramatic production of "The Nutcracker" this holiday season.

The Los Angeles Classical Ballet was founded 14 years ago by David Wilcox, the choreographer of the company's "Nutcracker." To be presented first at the Terrace Theater and later at the Shrine Auditorium, this ballet has a cast of more than 1,600 dancers, including 40 world class professional dancers.

"The basic story line is simple, without psychological undertones. It's like a fairy tale. We take the story straight from Tchaikovsky, we don't take anything out or put other pieces of music in. Still, it is an elaborate and huge spectacle," Wilcox says.

Wilcox emphasizes that no expense is spared with their production. For the international dances, the company goes to great extents to be authentic and impressive in every way. Two dancers in the Russian dance were brought over from Moscow at a cost of $25,000. Former Disney Studio designer Elliot Hessayon designed the extravagant set. And, according to Wilcox, the growing tree, pyrotechnics, illusions, magic tricks, 60-piece orchestra and live Andalusian mare attached to a flying sleigh succeed in leaving the audience in awe.

"I take it as far as I possibly can keeping to the story," Wilcox says. "We have the technology to do things today that we couldn't do a hundred years ago when the score was written. Why not take advantage of it?"

Wilcox recognizes that his show- business approach may not appeal to everyone. "I have been criticized by other ballet companies in the past for being too commercial. But the audience leaves thinking 'I had no idea that ballet could be so enjoyable.' That's my goal."

"The Harlem Nutcracker," performed by Donald Byrd/The Group, offers an even more unique interpretation of the holiday classic. Donald Byrd, the ballet's choreographer, is regarded by many as the most promising African-American choreographer of his generation. He wanted to create a uniquely American "Nutcracker" instead of a European "Nutcracker," particularly one that speaks to people of color.

The new version occurs in a Harlem dance club rather than a European parlor and combines Duke Ellington's jazz arrangement of Tchaikovsky's score with other pieces to accompany a nontraditional blend of classical ballet with jazz and street dance.

"The Harlem Nutcracker" follows one woman's life. She grew up and raised a family in Harlem in the '20s and '30s. "In a sense, the 'Nutcracker' becomes the story of the Harlem community and all the changes it has gone through, the story of the lives of African-Americans in this country," Leiberman comments.

Although it may stray from the norm, "The Harlem Nutcracker" preserves the feeling of the original.

"It is still a very lush, big production, on the scale of a Broadway show in terms of the sets, the live orchestra and the costuming.

"And no matter what you do, the underlying values of 'The Nutcracker' remain the same. The celebration of family, and tradition and love holds true for 'The Harlem Nutcracker' and are essential to the holiday season," Leiberman says.

DANCE: The San Francisco Ballet production plays at the Pasadena Civic Center Dec. 12-24. Ticket prices range from $21 to $61, For ticket information call (818) 449-7360. The Los Angeles Classical Ballet performs at the Terrace Theater Dec. 7-15 and the Shrine Auditorium Dec. 20-22. Tickets are $16 to $42. For information call (310) 427-5206. Donald Byrd/The Group presents "The Harlem Nutcracker" at the Wiltern Theater Dec. 27-29. Tickets are $35, $11 for students with ID.

Los Angeles Classical Ballet

The San Francisco Ballet performs "The

Nutcracker."