Los Angeles Ballet Returns With Holiday Classic ‘The Nutcracker’

Lindsey Styrwoll

Los Angeles Ballet company enters its 11th season with another production of The Nutcracker. A century ago, Angelenos were spectators to the birth of American contemporary dance.  It was the home of Denishawn, the company that trained modern dance pioneer Martha Graham. Even choreographer George Balanchine benefitted from a stint in Hollywood before returning east to found the renowned New York City Ballet. Continuing efforts to revive that tradition, the Los Angeles Ballet is returning with their yearly production of “The Nutcracker,” the holiday favorite that launched the company.

Founded in 2004 by co-artistic directors Thordal Christensen (former principal dancer and artistic director of the Royal Danish Ballet) and Colleen Neary (Balanchine’s sometime muse), Los Angeles Ballet made its debut with the 2006 production of the perennial holiday favorite. Forgoing strict classicism in favor of Christensen’s original choreography, the adaptation of the 19th-century Prussian tale is set in Los Angeles circa 1913. Sets by Catherine Kanner reflect the change of venue; costumes by Mikael Melbye were originally commissioned by Christensen during his tenure at the Royal Danish Ballet.

This “Nutcracker” will tour local theaters to capture a greater audience, and without a live orchestra, to keep the company’s balance sheet from doing a swan dive. This strategy shows L.A. Ballet’s pragmatism, as well as the acknowledgement that dance is still a niche proposition in Los Angeles – except for this time of year, when the crowds do the march of the wooden soldiers to the box office.

While elements of this “Nutcracker” are fueled by innovation, what remains is Tchaikovsky’s lush and dramatic score, uniting music lovers of all backgrounds. One of the season’s more secular delights, there is much inclusive about “The Nutcracker.” Plus, the ballet that snobs have accused the play of stunting the art form, when in fact it keeps it alive.

The dancers will be on their toes through at Glendale’s Alex Theatre, Dec. 3-4; Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, Dec. 10-11; UCLA’s Royce Hall, Dec. 16-18; and the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, Dec. 22-24.

“The Nutcracker” takes the stage Dec. 3-24. Tickets for all shows are here.