Today@Sam Article

Nutcracker Holiday Ballet Presented In Historic Home

Nov. 27, 2018
SHSU Media Contact: Emily Binetti

Photos by Lynn Lane

Sam Houston State University professor of Dance Dana Nicolay along with SHSU dance students and alumni, will ring-in the holiday season hosting the fourth annual immersive production of “A Wynne Home Nutcracker." The popular Christmas ballet tradition, presented by Nicolay Dance Works, will take place at the historic Wynne Home Arts Center on Dec. 5-8. 

The story behind the ballet, entitled, "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," was written by E.T.A. Hoffman in 1816 and takes place in Germany in the home of the Stahlbaum family. In the story, the daughter receives a special gift of a Nutcracker that comes to life as a prince and defeats an evil Mouse King before he transports Marie to a magical kingdom.

In 1844, Alexandre Dumas, French writer of "The Three Musketeers" and "The Count of Monte Cristo," adapted the story. It was this version that was later used for the familiar "Nutcracker" ballet with music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky and choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. The ballet debuted at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia on Dec. 18, 1892.

Different from a typical theatre setting, “A Wynne Home Nutcracker" unfolds in the surroundings of a historical home and adds to the experience for guests, according to Nicolay who serves as company director and choreographer. 

“The beautifully restored 19th century Wynne Home provides the perfect setting for this immersive production,” said Nicolay. “It’s an interactive experience for small groups of audience members who will be welcomed into the parlor of the Victorian home as the family is decorating the tree for a Christmas party.”

The production features over 40 cast members from Nicolay Dance Works, all of whom are current students or alumni of the SHSU Department of Dance.

"A Wynne Home Nutcracker" is funded in part by the City of Huntsville Arts Commission.  Special thanks go to, The Friends of the Wynne, McCaffety Electric Company, The Sam Houston Memorial Museum, The Texas Department of Criminal Justice, The Sam Houston State University College of Fine Arts and Mass Communication, Department of Dance and Department of Theatre and Musical Theatre.

Dec. 5 & 6, productions are at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m.                                        

Dec. 8 & 9, productions are at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m., 9 p.m.                                

Tickets available online at www.nicolaydanceworks.com 

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