Since we have now officially began the month of snow, lights, and beautifully decorated streets, let’s take a moment to think about what typically characterizes the holiday season. For many of us we put up Christmas trees, bake cookies, hang lights, and often it’s a combination of all three. As a fervent lover of the holidays, I tend to do all of the above but this year I’ll also be adding another item to the list: The Champaign-Urbana Ballet production of The Nutcracker.
The Nutcracker, which is set on the night of Christmas Eve, tells the story of Clara and her mysterious Godfather Drosselmeyer, who gives her a nutcracker which her brother Fritz and his friends later break. Clara’s Godfather fixes the nutcracker, and later she goes to sleep unaware that her dreams are under Drosselmeyer’s control. As she falls asleep the Rat Queen and her army appears, and the story follows the journey of Clara and her heroic Nutcracker, who later turns into a human prince.
This classic story has been dazzlingly performed by the Champaign-Urbana community since 2003, with their breathtaking choreography and beautiful costumes and sets. Typically the cast is around 100 people ranging from five to fifty-five, and hundreds of parents and volunteers are involved in making the show a success.
If you’ve never seen the show before, or saw it a few years ago and are thinking about going back for another performance, then I would definitely recommend making some space this weekend because everything from the choreography, costumes, and set have been re-done. Rachel Buller, part of the public relations committee for The Nutcracker was also a member of the Champaign-Urbana Ballet, and can vouch for the uniqueness of each show. “The artistic director does a great job of adding something new each year to keep things fresh” she said. “In my personal experience as a former dancer and now member of the audience, the show continues to be magical”.
Besides the magic of nutcrackers coming to life, the Champaign-Urbana ballet has been able to give a different type of magic through their commitment to making sure financial need is not a reason that those who wish to dance, aren’t able to dance. The company provides subsidizes for cast member involvement as well as scholarships for dancer training, in particular boy’s scholarships. These types of opportunities are so important because ballet, as beautiful as it is, has never been known to be cheap, so these programs are essential to the support and continuation of youth dancers.
A big reason I love the holidays is not just because of lights, decorations, or fabulous home-baked cookies, but for the good feelings that seem to shimmer on the air like sugar plum fairies. It reminds me that the holidays are not just about trying to find the perfect present, but also taking a moment to recognize the good and important things that exist all around us. The Nutcracker, with its enchantment and fairytales, can be a reminder of that magic that is available to all of us during the holiday season.
The Nutcracker will be held at the Krannert Center for Performing Arts Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the ticket office at 217-333-6280.