Anchorage Daily News

"The Nutcracker" was an all-around pleasure for concert-goers Friday afternoon. Youngsters at the Atwood Concert Hall loved the fairy tale costumes, characters and sets. Adults delighted in the exquisite dancing of the Oregon Ballet Theatre performers.

Friday's performance had kid-appeal from the beginning. Who can resist beautiful fairies and handsome toy soldiers, comical rats, a Christmas tree that magically grows and dancing flowers? More than 100 young local dancers livened up Act I's party scene and made a wonderful impression accompanying the soloists in many of Act II's short dances.

Put these elements with the chaste love story of young Marie falling in love with her brave and noble Nutcracker Prince and you have a hit for the younger crowd.

But it must be the dancing that holds the imaginations of the adults in the audience, or else this holiday classic quickly loses its appeal. Fortunately the visiting professional and local dancers -- along with the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, playing in fine form -- rose to the occasion Friday afternoon, doing splendid justice to George Balanchine's choreography and Tchaikovsky's well-known music.

Balanchine's "Nutcracker" reflects his Russian Old World upbringing and his neo-classical view of dance. The movement aesthetic in Friday's performance had the sharp-edged brilliance of a jewel. Glitter, precision and speed marked the dancing, especially in Act II. Act I shone with the warmth and sparkle of a romantic holiday celebration.

Although Act II had most of the dancing, Act I ended on a beautiful note with the corps de ballet swirling through a snowstorm. Snowflakes quickly changed directions, spinning and leaping across the stage. Ensemble patterns merged and suddenly flew apart. As the music built, 16 dancers filled the stage with flashing legs and arms caught in a winter wind.

In Act II's Waltz of the Flowers the same dancers became soft as petals that lifted and fell, rippled and twirled. Anne Mueller, the Dewdrop Fairy, was as reed thin as a stem and moved with a grace and softness that belied her movement precision. Each step and gesture was thoughtful and perfectly timed so that her dancing flowed rather than moved in steps.

Javier Ubell was an exuberant Candy Cane as he jumped through a striped hoop multiple times, while Kathi Martuza oozed sensuality as the embodiment of Coffee in her solo.

Gavin Larsen's Sugarplum Fairy and Artur Sultanov's Cavalier were a highlight of Act II. Their pas de deux was exquisite. The two found a balance between Balanchine's diamond-edged musicality and his sentimental, soft side. Larsen was regally precise in her steps and poses, which she held for that wonderful moment of suspense. Sultanov whipped through his barrel turns and one-legged spins and partnered Larsen with deference and poise.

The Oregonian "Nutcracker" is one of the better productions of this classic and remains a great way to open the holiday season in Anchorage. But try to bring a kid along; you'll both end up having a magical time.

Anne Herman holds a master's degree in dance and has been a consultant for the National Endowment for the Arts.

THE NUTCRACKER will be presented by the Anchorage Concert Association at 2 and 7 p.m. today, and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday in Atwood Concert Hall. Tickets are $20-$40 at CenterTix.net or by calling 263-2787.

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