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Bloomingdale dance academy behind major 'Nutcracker' production
Ballet poised to enchant
![["The Nutcracker" cast takes a bow last year with director Linda Cunningham (center). To her right is noted stage and screen actor Roger Hendricks Simon of New York, returning as the magician Drosselmeyer.]
Magic will infuse "The Nutcracker" ballet leaping onto stage Dec. 7 and 8, directed by Linda Cunningham.
Her production will feature a professional symphony orchestra, a noted stage and screen actor in the role of Drosselmeyer, choristers, a surprise magic trick and guest ballet artists from the U.S. and Bolshoi Brazil, all converging on The Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin.
Seventy performers will be part of the shows by Chicago Ballet Conservatory, a pre-professional classical ballet program of the Mohler Dance Academy in Bloomingdale.
In a first, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra will co-present the holiday production, playing the iconic Tchaikovsky score conducted by Stephen Squires, Cunningham said.
Appearing as the Sugar Plum Fairy will be Elina Miettinen, who trained in Europe and is affiliated with American Ballet Theatre of New York. The role of Cavalier will be danced by ABT's Sean Stewart.
"Their resumes and bios are off the charts," Cunningham said, noting it's a boon for the younger cast members to collaborate with working professionals.
Reprising the role of Drosselmeyer will be Roger Hendricks Simon of New York, a veteran director and actor who has directed such artists as John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson and James Woods. He will share his expertise in an acting class for "Nutcracker" cast members.
This year's theme of enchantment prompted Cunningham to collaborate with magic consultant Benjamin Barnes of Chicago.
"I'm having an actual, real, bona fide magic trick … for the reveal of the Nutcracker," she said.
Cunningham, who starts preparing the show nearly a year in advance, this summer visited Bolshoi Brazil, with which several of the guest dancers are affiliated.
"There are two Bolshois in the world – one in Russia and one … in Brazil," she said, calling the visit "off the chain."](027d2018-f87a-426c-b18e-1997031d9a45/image-pv_web.jpg)
["The Nutcracker" cast takes a bow last year with director Linda Cunningham (center). To her right is noted stage and screen actor Roger Hendricks Simon of New York, returning as the magician Drosselmeyer.]
Magic will infuse "The Nutcracker" ballet leaping onto stage Dec. 7 and 8, directed by Linda Cunningham.
Her production will feature a professional symphony orchestra, a noted stage and screen actor in the role of Drosselmeyer, choristers, a surprise magic trick and guest ballet artists from the U.S. and Bolshoi Brazil, all converging on The Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin.
Seventy performers will be part of the shows by Chicago Ballet Conservatory, a pre-professional classical ballet program of the Mohler Dance Academy in Bloomingdale.
In a first, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra will co-present the holiday production, playing the iconic Tchaikovsky score conducted by Stephen Squires, Cunningham said.
Appearing as the Sugar Plum Fairy will be Elina Miettinen, who trained in Europe and is affiliated with American Ballet Theatre of New York. The role of Cavalier will be danced by ABT's Sean Stewart.
"Their resumes and bios are off the charts," Cunningham said, noting it's a boon for the younger cast members to collaborate with working professionals.
Reprising the role of Drosselmeyer will be Roger Hendricks Simon of New York, a veteran director and actor who has directed such artists as John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson and James Woods. He will share his expertise in an acting class for "Nutcracker" cast members.
This year's theme of enchantment prompted Cunningham to collaborate with magic consultant Benjamin Barnes of Chicago.
"I'm having an actual, real, bona fide magic trick … for the reveal of the Nutcracker," she said. Cunningham, who starts preparing the show nearly a year in advance, this summer visited Bolshoi Brazil, with which several of the guest dancers are affiliated.
"There are two Bolshois in the world – one in Russia and one … in Brazil," she said, calling the visit "off the chain."
[Featured are two American Ballet Theatre artists: Elina Miettinen will appear as the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Sean Stewart as the Cavalier.]
She had met Bolshoi Brazil's director general, Pavel Kazarian, when he visited her former Geneva studio about five years ago.
"I was the first one to have an American dancer (Emma Sidari of St. Charles) be invited to go study at that Bolshoi school," Cunningham said.
Sidari studied there for three weeks, and now at age 17, will have several parts in "The Nutcracker," such as the soldier doll.
Professional performers will include the returning Raoni Xavier of Bolshoi Brazil; Marcos Silva from Brazil, formerly with that Bolshoi company; and Violetta Komyshan of New York, who has a prodigious social media following.
Cunningham said she fell in love with the people of Brazil, and wants to continue nurturing the cross-cultural collaboration.
She is shaping the holiday production based on her insights into the origin of "The Nutcracker," thought to have been composed by Tchaikovsky to honor his late sister, Sasha, who lives on as Clara.
"I'm doing something different with the opening of act two," Cunningham said, explaining she delves into Tchaikovsky's inspiration for the work including the last Christmas Eve he spent with his sister. "He saw himself as Drosselmeyer [and] immortalized his younger sister forever through this ballet."
Knowing the story enhances its meaningfulness for her performers.
"I like my cast of all ages and abilities to know why they're dancing," she said. "It becomes very personal. For a … brilliant lovely time and space … Tchaikovsky wanted to keep his sister's spirit alive."
Cunningham said angels will be part of the opening of act two.
[Linda Cunningham visited Bolshoi Brazil this summer, which has trained several of the guest artists.]
"I have phenomenal gowns donated by The Crystal Bride," she said of some of the elaborate costuming. "Six gowns; they are gorgeous."
Cunningham added that there's "a real sense of beauty, when you stay true to the story and the score – these were real people."
In the role of Clara will be Tatiana Chen, 12, of Naperville, whom Cunningham calls "a beautiful dancer."
The production is a family affair. One of the performers appearing as Clara's brother Fritz is Athan Laden, whose actual grandparents, Dwight and Mary Avram of Wayne, portray the grandparents in the ballet. Their granddaughter Annabella Laden also appears. Cunningham's husband, Kirk, will play the father of Clara and Fritz.
The production also draws participants from Wheaton, Bloomingdale, West Chicago, Wayne, Schaumburg, Elburn, the TriCities and Crystal Lake.
The Chancel Choir from St. Daniel the Prophet Church in Chicago will perform holiday music in the lobby before the show, and will sing from the pit for the ballet's snow scene.
A Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party is planned from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Dec. 7 at The Hemmens' exhibition hall, which will be attended by the Sugar Plum Fairy and other characters.
The ballet sold out last year, so a third show has been added in the 1,200 seat theater.
If you go
WHAT: "The Nutcracker"
WHEN: 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 7 and 2 p.m. Dec. 8; Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 7
WHERE: Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin
COST: $25 to $50 for the ballet and $20 for the tea party
INFO: cbcnutcracker.com, 630-893-1444