Nutcracker (LES) in the Lower East Side

Nutcracker with  a twist .Krumping rats and popping soldiers, crooked hats, and the Nutcracker Ballet, think Urban Ballet Theater. Christmas  will never be the same. The Abrons Arts Center hosts the re-imagined Nutcracker in the Lower for its ninth consecutive year, establishing a cultural tradition that is as diverse as it is relevant and above all a city story.

Nutcracker in the Lower East Side (LES) explodes with daring and delight, twisting the classic story of Clara and her magical adventures to reflect Manhattan’s cultural diversity.A modern urban twist to the classic the Party Scene , traditionally depicted as an opulent 19 th century ball, becomes a holiday salsa fiesta.Infused with hip-hop choreography,the Battle Scene , can easily be imagined in a crumbling subway station as gigantic rat and crisp toy soldiers wage war over the heroine’s fate. Traditional Flamenco and Chinese fan and ribbons dancers add dynamic cultural authenticity in the Spanish and Chinese segment, while Classical ballet retains the traditional grace of the delicate Snow Pas de Deux  & Waltz of the Flowers .

Tchaikovsky’s original score remains largely intact throughout the ballet, injected with the pounding baselines of hip-hop and the burnished cante of flamenco. The representation of such diversity not only innovates the storytelling for both children and adults, but also serves as a natural expression of the multilayered community of artists of the Lower East Side.

Sat 11/28 – Sat 12/5 (3PM) at the Abrons Arts Center of Henry Street Settlement ,466 Grand Street (at Pitt St.) New York, NY  Cost: $20, $15

Official Site: http://www.abronsartscenter.orgVideo/Audio

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