‘Nutcracker’ to be a tradition at Segerstrom
Just a few days before the youngsters would perform in “The Nutcracker” before an audience at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, their concentration and intensity were evident.
The children, students of the center’s American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School, were under pressure to memorize the choreography in a short time, learn dance techniques and endure long rehearsal days.
This weekend, their efforts will be seen in the center’s full-scale production of Tchaikovsky’s classic, which has become as American as leaving the milk and cookies out for Santa.
“The Nutcracker,” created by artist-in-residence Alexei Ratmansky, will be giving 14 performances through Dec. 20. The ballet will feature a holiday extravaganza of sets and costumes from Richard Hudson, best known for his work for “The Lion King,” which won him the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design.
And so starts a Southern California tradition. This will be the West Coast premiere of American Ballet Theatre’s newest “Nutcracker” and the inaugural production at the Segerstrom Center.
The center plans to present the ballet each holiday season.
And helping mark that new tradition will be students enrolled in the center’s dance school. Joining the students, who hail from all over Orange County, are professional dancers like Stella Abrera, who at age 37 became the first Filipino American to be promoted to principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre.
Performing onstage with company dancers at such a well-known venue is a dream come true, said student dancers Joshua Binowitz and Jasmine Gilbert.
Joshua, a 13-year-old Ladera Ranch resident, has been dancing for almost 10 years. He plays the brotherly role of Fritz.
“I’m very excited that I get to learn from the professionals and watch them dance,” said Joshua, who noted that the benefit of being enrolled at the school is getting to audition for such high-level productions. (Gillespie School students may also try out for a separate spring performance.) “I have learned how to act as a dancer, and I’m looking forward to showing my best.”
Jasmine, 12, of Anaheim Hills, said that at the school, she has learned dance techniques and lessons such as making sure the audience can see her face.
“The Nutcracker” is one of her favorite productions.
“I like how it takes place during Christmas because it is one of my favorite holidays,” Jasmine said. “I also love the music because it varies in tempo and style.”
Joshua and Jasmine are among a cast of more than 100 performers — 51 of whom are children ranging in age from 9 to 15 — in the production.
It’s an achievement, the students said, to be sharing the stage with celebrated ABT artists like Abrera, who has the highest rank in the elite ballet company.
Abrera, who is based in New York City, received much attention in August for being the first Filipino American principal dancer at ABT, while her friend Misty Copeland is noted for becoming its first black principal dancer.
At age 5, Abrera started taking lessons after her older sister noticed the girl’s interest in dance. She joined the ABT as a member of the corps del ballet in 1996 and was promoted to soloist in 2001.
Abrera has performed with ABT at Segerstrom quite regularly, calling the center like a “second or third home.”
“We’ve been doing ‘Nutcracker’ every year since we were children, and it definitely makes it feel like the holidays when we perform,” Abrera said. “I hope the students have a great time performing onstage. It’s a wonderful thing for young dancers to be in a professional ballet environment.”
Rehearsing for “The Nutcracker” requires practice for seven hours a day, five to six days a week, she said. She usually goes through five to seven pairs of slippers a week.
The children were rehearsing two to eight hours per week depending on their role. This week, now that the show has started, they added more hours.
Hearing sounds from Tchaikovsky’s score away from the theater can be a bit of challenge for Abrera and fellow ballet dancers, who might be inclined to do a plie in a shopping center, for example, she said.
“It can be trying when you hear ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’ while shopping at Walgreens or anywhere else,” Abrera said with a laugh. “We love what we do.”
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IF YOU GO
What: American Ballet Theatre’s “The Nutcracker”
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays until Dec. 20
Where: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Cost: Tickets start at $29
Information: (714) 556-2787 or visit scfta.org
