Nutcracker in the Lower 2011

Krumping rats and popping soldiers, crooked hats, and The Nutcracker, re-imagined by the Urban Ballet Theater, will never be the same. Abrons hosts Nutcracker in the Lower for its 10th-anniversary year, establishing a cultural tradition that is as diverse as it is relevant. Daniel Catanach, Artistic Director of UBT, is acclaimed for his movement vocabulary that innovates storytelling for both children and adults.

Nutcracker in the Lower explodes with daring and delight, twisting the classic story of Clara and her magical adventures to reflect Manhattan’s cultural diversity. The party scene, traditionally depicted as an opulent 19th-century ball, becomes a holiday salsa fiesta. The battle scene can easily be imagined in a crumbling subway station as gigantic mice and crisp toy soldiers wage war over the heroine’s fate. The production retains the traditional grace of classical ballet in the delicate “Snow Pas de Deux” and “Waltz of the Flowers.” The Cavalier and Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy is a Romantic interpretation of Clara’s idealized family. Clara’s journey through these tableaux echo the audience’s own experience through this new interpretation.

Tchaikovsky’s original score remains largely intact throughout the ballet, injected with the baselines of hip-hop and the burnished cante of flamenco.
Gala performance Nov 29