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 DECEMBER
2004
Cowell Theater
Chestnuts roasting. Mistletoe. Macy’s festive windows.
It’s a Wonderful Life on television. Songs about
snow and sleigh rides. Yes, yes. It is that time. Nutcracker
time. Despite its familiarity, it remains for many a most
welcome tradition. And for the young, it is often awe-inspiring,
eye-popping fun.
For three wonderful days – December 3, 4 and 5, the Cowell
Theater hosts The Nutcracker as the City Ballet School
presents the timeless Tchaikovsky classic with new choreography
by Yuri Zhukov and the school’s artistic director Galina
Alexandrova.
The school is renowned for launching young dancers on their
way to professional careers, by preparing them for professional
companies and university programs. This year’s performance
of The Nutcracker showcases dancers from six to 19
years old. The students benefit from the guidance of Alexandrova,
who has been with the Bolshoi, Smuin Ballet, and the San Francisco
Ballet, and Zhukov, who was with both the Kirov and San Francisco
Ballet.
The Nutcracker ballet is based on the story, “The
Nutcracker and the King of Mice,” by E. T. A. Hoffman
and was given its first full-length US performance by the
San Francisco Ballet on Christmas Eve, 1944. Today, it is
the most widely performed dance in repertory with more than
150 US ballet companies performing it during the winter holidays.
For more information on The Nutcracker, see the
December 3 calendar listing or visit www.cityballetschool.org.
Tickets are available through the Fort Mason Center Box Office
at (415) 345-7575.
– Ronald Tierney
Photo: Sandy Lee
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