It’s a seasonal ritual that numerous households get pleasure from — getting dressed of their vacation best and heading off to see an area manufacturing of the “The Nutcracker,” that candy-coated ballet that celebrates all issues Christmas.
It’s additionally a ritual that’s important to the underside line of many dance firms, which rely on these strong “Nutcracker” gross sales to get them by means of the remainder of the yr. In truth, one outstanding firm, the Atlanta Ballet, informed me that 70% of its annual box-office income derives from its manufacturing of the vacation favourite.
It’s little marvel the corporate invested practically $5 million in its extravagant model — it’s about ensuring audiences are absolutely entertained and wanting to return again for extra.
I hate to burst any sugar-plum bubbles right here, however I’ve obtained one message for all these “Nutcracker” followers on the market: It’s time to maneuver on to a different ballet.
“I hate to burst any sugar-plum bubbles here, but I’ve got one message for all those “Nutcracker” followers on the market: It’s time to maneuver on to a different ballet.”
As somebody who’s written about arts and tradition for a superb chunk of his journalistic profession, I’ve attended quite a lot of “Nutcracker” performances — in all probability near 50 at this level. I’d be mendacity if I mentioned I by no means loved them. The ballet’s story, which tells the fantastical story of a woman and her toy nutcracker-turned-prince and their eventual journey to a land of sweets and enchantment, may be, properly, candy and enchanting. And the music, by Tchaikovksy, is so full of aural sparkle that it simply appears like Christmas.
But the ballet could be a robust nut to crack, so to talk, particularly for youthful audiences. It’s full of parts that border on the scary (assume a battle scene with outsized mice). And its sheer size — round two hours — can attempt the endurance of kids. Trust me: I’ve seen one too many households who’ve needed to deal with all this and have clearly left the theater lower than glad.
And that’s after they’ve spent a whole bunch of {dollars} on tickets — I do know a former colleague whose “Nutcracker” tab ran $1,400 this yr for her household of 5! — and no small sum on souvenirs and snacks to placate their progeny and get them by means of the second act.
Let’s additionally not overlook a few of the problematic parts in “The Nutcracker” when it comes to how it may well propagate stereotypes. I’m considering of the Chinese and Arabian-themed numbers within the second act, which may be downright offensive by as we speak’s requirements, although some firms are rethinking these parts to keep away from such points.
Still, the true drawback I’ve with “The Nutcracker” is that for too many households and people, it’s the one dance occasion — and, in some instances, the one cultural occasion — they attend all yr. And even if you happen to treasure the ballet for a few of the causes I cite above, I’d make the case that we might all profit from just a little extra artwork in our difficult and stressed-out lives. Plus, a part of the enjoyment of going to see any stay leisure is the fun of the surprising — or no less than the fun of seeing one thing past what typically quantities to a vacation trifle.
My specific cultural ardour today is theater — and dwelling in New York City, I’m blessed to see a superb many Broadway exhibits. But if I feel again to the manufacturing I loved most this previous yr, it wasn’t some glitzy, extremely anticipated Broadway musical, however a 75-minute off-Broadway play that was a bizarrely poetic tackle the Frankenstein story, supplied up by a visiting troupe from Northern Ireland.
The Atlanta Ballet is producing a brand new ballet concerning the lifetime of style icon Coco Chanel in Feburary 2024; the corporate is hoping to persuade some ‘Nutcracker’ attendees to purchase tickets.
Courtesy Atlanta Ballet
Of course, there’s no saying you may’t have it each methods — that’s, you may get pleasure from your “Nutcracker” after which attend one other ballet or two. Indeed, ballet firms make no small effort to woo their “Nutcracker” audiences again. At the Atlanta Ballet, for instance, the push is already on to get the “Nutcracker” crowd to purchase tickets for an intriguing new ballet they firm is presenting in February about the lifetime of style nice Coco Chanel.
“I certainly wish people would see more of what we do,” Atlanta Ballet govt director Tom West informed me.
I additionally get that vacation custom is vacation custom for some households. And “The Nutcracker” is such part of the season that foregoing it could be like foregoing baking Christmas cookies or trimming the tree.
Lauren Sikora, a New Jersey resident and common “Nutcracker” attendee, informed me she’s been going to 1 manufacturing or one other, together with the well-known New York City Ballet model, since she was 5. Sikora is now 41 and he or she continues the custom by taking her younger daughter together with her.
“It doesn’t feel like Christmas until we go,” Sikora shared.
To be clear, if it weren’t for folk like Sikora and 1000’s of others shopping for these “Nutcracker” tickets, we’d in all probability have quite a bit much less dance to see the remainder of the yr.
““The Nutcracker” is the engine that drives the practice for a lot of ballet firms, most of that are nonprofit organizations that perpetually battle to stability their budgets. ”
Again, “The Nutcracker” is the engine that drives the practice for a lot of ballet firms, most of that are nonprofit organizations that perpetually battle to stability their budgets. Data from Dance/USA, which represents firms all through the U.S., exhibits that the Atlanta Ballet is hardly an exception: Sales from the “The Nutcracker” account for 42% to 79% of annual ticket income for the 20 establishments it not too long ago surveyed.
And firms have been particularly feeling the pinch for the reason that pandemic, which compelled them to close down for a lot of months and put them in an ever-more financially precarious state of affairs.
Dance teams “are still feeling discombobulated by the massive organizational fluctuations” of the COVID period, mentioned Kellee Edusei, govt director of Dance/USA. Edusei added that ticket gross sales are rebounding, however audiences are particularly craving the consolation of acquainted works as a part of that restoration.
You definitely can’t get extra acquainted than “The Nutcracker” — for higher or worse. I’ll skip it myself this yr, but when it brings you and your loved ones some pleasure in the course of the holidays, by all means go see it.
Just bear in mind: There are 11 extra months of dance on the calendar.
Source web site: www.marketwatch.com
