Lompoc Record, CA
Nov 17 2004
Tchaikovsky’s ‘The Nutcracker’ features a cast of more than 100
By The Record Staff
11/17/04 The Santa Barbara Festival Ballet presents one of the most
cherished ballets in history, Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker,”
Saturday and Sunday, Dec 11 and 12, at the Arlington Theatre in Santa
Barbara. This holiday treat celebrates the company’s 30th annual
performance. With a cast of more than 100 performers from the Santa
Barbara Festival Ballet and Santa Barbara Ballet Center, this
traditional production includes live music from members of the Santa
Barbara Symphony, under the direction of Elise Unruh. This is Santa
Barbara’s only fully-orchestrated live performance of “The
Nutcracker.”
Giant mice doing battle with toy soldiers, dancing snowflakes,
waltzing flowers and a toy nutcracker transformed into a prince make
up some of the magical elements of “The Nutcracker.” Clara,
accompanied by the Nutcracker Prince, journeys to the Kingdom or
Sweets, where the Sugar Plum Fairy calls for a festival of dances
from foreign and exotic lands. This holiday tale has always been a
delight for families throughout the world and this 30th annual
performance promises to be a wonderful family experience for young
and old alike.
This year’s guest artists are Sayat Asatryan, dancing the role of
Cavalier, and Olga Tchekachova, as the Sugar Plum Fairy. Asatryn was
born in Yerevan, Armenia, and trained in Russia at the Voronezh
Ballet School and St. Petersburg Ballet Academy. He was a principal
ballet dancer with the Moscow Kremlin Ballet, touring internationally
in South America, Europe, Japan, France, Egypt, and the U.S.
Tchekachova was formally a principle dancer with the Bristol Ballet
in England, and has toured internationally as a principle dancer with
the Kirov Ballet and St. Petersburg Ballet dance companies.
Artistic Directors Denise Rinaldi and Michele Hulse Pearson are
directing and choreographing this 30th anniversary production. Scenic
design is by Le Straburg and Marina Harris, with costume design by
Sue Stafford Kennedy.
The Santa Barbara Festival Ballet is a Santa Barbara based company
dedicated to providing a forum in which gifted, pre-professional
dancers are able to gain work experience for a future careers. “The
Nutcracker” is an opportunity for those dancers to work with
professional guest artists and to perform to live music. This fully
staged ballet has long been a cherished part of Santa Barbara
County’s traditional holiday entertainment, and is frequently young
children’s first exposure to classical music and ballet.
Tickets are available through the Arlington Ticket Agency and all
Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets are $15 to $38; discounts are available
for children, students and seniors. For more information, call the
box office at 963-4408.