November 30, 2012

SDB Nutcracker 2011 Photo: Manny Rotenberg
Class in the morning and then we went over the Nutcracker lecture demo. We will be doing it three times in the next two weeks. It features a shortened version of the Nutcracker. In the past we have done it with either a small group or the full company. This year, I chose to utilize the full company to keep the group dynamic strong. So I changed the ending slightly. Normally, its just the Waltz of the Flowers and Sugar Plum and Cavalier. This year, all of the variations come running back in for a big finish.

SDB Nutcracker 2011 Photo: Manny Rotenberg
Dress Rehearsal in the evening went relatively well. It was raining so we had to redirect the kids pathway from dressing room to the stage, but apart from that not much to report. The ending of the party scene is being played a bit slower than usual so I have to come up with extra business for myself ad the Nutcracker Prince. We had an inordinate amount of "fog" onstage last night when the X-mas Tree was growing. It was at least 3 1/2 feet high. So we kept "losing" Clara as she ran around the stage.
As always costumes need minor alterations. Some of the younger dancers will be appearing in a parade tomorrow. Hopefully the weather will change for them.