Written by Carrie Beth Wallace
All images feature dancers of The Columbus Ballet as photographed by Roger Spencer-Jones.
The Columbus Ballet's annual production of The Nutcracker will take place at RiverCenter for the Performing Arts on December 7 and 8, 2024. The beloved holiday tradition marks one of the largest opportunities for audience members to encounter multiple disciplines within the arts as each aspect of the production works together to culminate in a full-scale ballet. When celebrating the holidays, there's just nothing quite like The Nutcracker to set the season in motion.
From the dynamic storytelling power of choreography upheld by the magic of a live orchestra, to the gorgeous costume designs and memorable sets, this is an ideal opportunity for people of all ages to see firsthand what a sensory-filled experience ballet can be. The educational potential of a full-scale ballet is unmatched. Each audience member has a rare chance to experience how dance, theatre, costume design, sets, and live music all combine to produce a uniquely enthralling exposure to the world of ballet – whether it's the viewer's first or hundredth time seeing the show.
This year, The Columbus Ballet's production has three directors to ensure every element of The Nutcracker is presented to the highest standard. Laura Johnson is serving as the Producing Director, Bridget Adams is the Theatrical Director, and Angela Null is this year's Artistic Director. Each has a unique role to equip all members of the production to know exactly where to be and when, how to fulfill their role within the show, and why each creative choice matters to ensuring The Nutcracker is a success. From coordinating dancer logistics with parents to rehearsing the musicians of the orchestra, a production like The Nutcracker is no small feat. Every hour of rehearsal counts – especially when there are so many artistic mediums involved.
Keeping every element focused toward a cohesive vision is a challenge this year's team has taken on with joy. Bridget Adams is this year's Theatrical Director, who oversees all of Act One. "In the first act of the Nutcracker, the theatrical elements must bring the story to life for the audience," said Adams. "Our hope is that, with the help of beautiful costuming, interesting characters, and careful choreography, the audience will quickly feel like they have joined the Stahlbaum's annual holiday party. As is true with the entire Nutcracker Ballet, there is a great variety within the show to keep everyone entertained. Act one has talented acting, technical ballet dancing, magic tricks, comical situations, and of course, an energetic sword fight. Although the many moving parts of Act One are a challenge for any choreographer, I love watching the dancers turn this section of the ballet into so much more than I have created. They truly make it their own, and that never gets old for me!"
Angela Null has returned to The Columbus Ballet as this year's Artistic Director. "I am responsible for the artistic elements of this year's production of The Nutcracker. As such, my responsibilities have included managing the audition process, selecting the appropriate roles for dancers, running rehearsals, refining choreography, as well as enhancing the technical precision and artistry of our dancers, choosing costuming, makeup, hairstyles, set design, props, and lighting, and connecting with our guest artists regularly. All of these duties, amongst others, have been carried out in an effort to create a seamless production for our beloved community and beyond. While this year's rendition will feature a traditional storyline, the audience can expect a few surprises this year. For example, we will feature a Lead Butterfly in the Waltz of the Flowers!”
Costume design is another aspect that plays a major role in bringing the visual elements of The Nutcracker to life. “As the Costume Director and Mistress, part of my role is to collaborate closely with the leadership team and dancers to ensure the costumes align with the directors' artistic vision while also accommodating the demands of the choreography,” explained Martha Powers. “Every detail is carefully considered, from the look of a piece to how it moves with the dancer. For me, the most rewarding part is hearing dancers express that they feel beautiful and confident in their costumes—because when they feel that way, it elevates their performance and helps them fully embody their characters on stage. My goal is to create costumes that allow our performers to shine, look incredible, and move freely and safely so they can bring the story to life for the audience.”
Another essential element to this year's production is the presence of live music. Did you know having a live orchestra is not a guarantee for most ballet companies? It's true. The Columbus Ballet is fortunate to work with a highly-experienced conductor who puts together their orchestra every year. So, why is incorporating a live orchestra so important? Lots of reasons!
"Whenever an opportunity arises for an orchestra to support dance on the stage, it offers an incredibly enhanced sound, a dynamic interaction between dancers and conductor/orchestra, and the possibility for transcendent collaboration," explained this year's conductor, Paul Hostetter. "The truth is that when recordings are processed through speakers, they minimize and compress the sound. But with a live orchestra, the dancers move in a way that the conductor and orchestra can follow . The energy from this interaction, like actors listening to one another, is electric and creates such a better live experience for audiences. A recording is static and makes for a one sided artistic conversation."
Hostetter went on to discuss why he personally enjoys working with The Columbus Ballet for their annual production of The Nutcracker. "I intentionally make time every year to work with our colleagues in The Columbus Ballet because of the chance to be moved by music and motion as a pair," he explained. "That their board recognizes live music's importance is a gift to our city, to our region, and to all of the terrific artists involved in this wonderful production. I feel incredibly lucky to work with people I genuinely like, respect, and with whom it is a privilege to collaborate, especially in a piece as richly beautiful as The Nutcracker!”
This year's Producing Director, Laura Johnson, has been involved in a lot of different aspects of the production. ”It's been interesting being the Producing Director," said Johnson. "I am still choreographing, running rehearsals, etc., like a normal director, but then I have my hands in a lot of different pots to make sure logistically it will all come together. For the dancers and parents in the production, I am their main point of contact and the one who disseminates the information they need to make sure their dancers are prepared for the stage. I also work with the orchestra to make sure their needs are met as well as communicate with the RiverCenter about what we need as we move into their space for show week. I am also the person who does our community outreach, which includes visiting 11 elementary schools in our area before they come see the school show. There are smaller responsibilities - making sure our seamstress has what she needs and that all the costumes are going to be ready in time, checking in with committee heads to make sure they have the help they need to cover their responsibilities, coordinating events like our cast party...many little things that are mundane, but make a difference when adding up to the whole. All these things happen away from the eyes of the audience, but without them happening, it would be difficult for us to get a performance of this quality and caliber onto stage.”
Attending artistic experiences like The Nutcracker are incredibly beneficial for young people. Exposing young people to the arts has numerous benefits, supported by substantial data from research in education, psychology, and social sciences. Key advantages include improved academic performance, enhanced cognitive development, stimulation of brain areas responsible for executive functioning and memory retention, and improved social and emotional wellness. A study from the U.S. Department of Education even showed that low-income individuals who participate in the arts are five times more likely to graduate high school. In addition, a study from the National Arts Education Association found that young people who are exposed to the arts are 2-3 times more likely to develop a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity. Finally, a study published in The Journal of Educational Psychology indicated that arts exposure in youth correlates with higher levels of life satisfaction and mental health in adulthood.
So whether it's your child's first time seeing The Nutcracker or their grandmother's fiftieth, making time to attend the ballet has numerous benefits to all. No previous ballet or arts exposure is needed to enjoy this beloved classic, and it's one of the biggest opportunities of the year in Columbus, Georgia to experience so many artistic elements working in tandem to provide a multi-sensory journey into the world of ballet.
"The Nutcracker is a wonderful holiday tradition and we have worked collectively as a team to ensure that this year's production fills our audience with joy and inspires future generations of artistic talent," said Null. "Come be a part of the magic and join us at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts on Saturday, December 7 at 7:30PM and on Sunday, December 8 at 2:30PM.”
If You Go:
What: The Nutcracker
When: December 7 and 8
Where: RiverCenter for the Performing Arts
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