A Boulder Tradition we here at elephant look forward to every winter. Join us!

Let the holidays begin…

Boulder Ballet performs the classical ballet The Nutcracker with choreography by Ana Claire and Peter Davison.

Boulder

With the Boulder Philharmonic and Boulder Children’s Chorale at Macky Auditorium on the University of Colorado campus in Boulder.  Performances will be:

Friday, November 26 at 4pm

Saturday, November 27 at 2pm and 7pm

Sunday, November 28 at 2pm

Tickets are $15 – $82 and can be purchased at Boulder Ballet’s website, Boulder Philharmonic’s site, or through the box office at (303) 449-1343 ext. 2.

Longmont

The Boulder Ballet will perform with the Longmont Symphony Orchestra at Vance Brand Civic Auditorium in Longmont on:

Saturday, December 4 at 4pm

Sunday December 5 at 2pm

Tickets available through LSO 303-772-5796.

The Show

Boulder Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker combines traditional classical style with new characters, circus arts, and unique special effects. The choreography is meant to visualize Tchaikovsky’s beautiful score in a way that is both classical yet relevant to today’s audiences. While many productions downplay the story of Clara (sometimes known as Marie) and focus instead on abstract dance, Boulder Ballet’s production follows Clara as she grows from child to adult during the course of a dream and Clara herself is involved in much of the dancing that happens around her. Clara is truly the center of the ballet.

Boulder’s Nutcracker is one of only two Denver metro-area companies offering a full scale production with professional ballet company and live orchestra, scenery, and costumes in a grand opera house setting. As in all Nutcrackers, the cast also includes many children (students of the Boulder Ballet School) who perform the youthful characters and provide a delightful attraction for young audience members. With Tchaikovsky’s magnificent music beautifully played live, the entire production lives and breathes spontaneously with each performance.

The Artists

Peter Davison brings 35-years of diverse performing experience to the Boulder Ballet. His childhood idols were Alexander Calder and Batman, influences that led to training in visual art, juggling, and dance. While a teenager, Peter began his professional career street performing in Los Angeles and as a variety artist for Hollywood films. He moved to Boulder in 1980. Peter studied ballet with Larry Boyette, Ana Claire, Barbara Demaree, Finis Jhung and Donald Mahler; modern dance with Danelle Helander, and tap with Susan Hadley and Lynn Dally, among others. In 1982 Peter became a founding member of the trio, Airjazz, with whom he appeared at venues such as the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, New Zealand International Festival of the Arts, BAM, and the Hong Kong Arts Festival. Peter has also been a member of David Taylor Dance Theater, Jan Justis Dance Company, Kim Robards Dance, 3rd Law Dance/Theater, and has performed principal roles with Boulder Ballet since 1987. He has performed solo shows at the Carmel/California Performing Arts Festival, Cincinnati Playhouse, and Utah State Arts Tour, and has appeared as a featured soloist on the CBS, BBC and Fox television networks. Peter has received numerous awards and grants including the Arts Innovation Award from the Colorado Federation of the Arts, and the Performance Fellowship from the Colorado Council on the Arts. Peter has choreographed works for several Colorado-based companies, and he is a recipient of the 2009 Ballet Builders Award for Choreography, from New Choreographers on Pointe in New York City.

Ana Claire is the Director of the Boulder Ballet School, which has more than tripled in size under her direction. Although born in Boulder, Ana grew up on a ranch near Fairplay, Colorado.  At the age of eight she saw American Ballet Theater perform Swan Lake and fell in love with the art of ballet.  In an extraordinary gift of support, Ana’s mother then drove her to ballet classes in Denver throughout her childhood.  Ana has studied ballet with Maxine Williamson, Fernando Schaffenberg, Milenko Banovich, Barbara Demaree and Larry Boyette. She has performed with Fort Worth Ballet, Fort Worth Opera, David Taylor Dance Theater, Aladdin Theater, Boulder’s Dinner Theater, Jan Justis Dance Company, and 3rd Law Dance/Theater, among others.  Ana was a principal ballerina with Boulder Ballet for many years, and was twice voted “Boulder’s Best” by the Daily Camera.  She has produced, directed, and choreographed fifteen Storybook Ballets, all with original music, scenery, and costumes created in collaboration with local artists.  She also co-choreographed the 1998, ’99, and all productions since 2001 of Boulder Ballet’s Nutcracker.  Ana is also the Director of Boulder Ballet’s acclaimed outreach program Steps in Time which has been performed at numerous schools throughout the Boulder/Denver area.  Ana studied dance pedagogy at Texas Christian University, attended the teacher training workshop with former New York City Ballet principal, Jillana, and has over twenty-five years of teaching experience. She is a passionate teacher dedicated to helping students achieve technical excellence while nurturing their individual artistry, and many of her students have gone on to professional careers in dance.  Ana currently lives in Boulder with her husband, Peter Davison, and children, Alexander and Claire.

Principal Cast

Adult Clara – Melissa Heslep

Nutcracker Prince – Matthew Helms & Ryan Seate

Sugarplum Fairy – Kathryn Wagner

Uncle Drosselmeyer – Peter Davison

Here are links to the Boulder Ballet’s facebook and twitter:

facebook.com/boulderballet

twitter.com/boulderballet