Nutcracker Ballet in the Land of Enchantment will again be performed on the National Hispanic Cultural Center’s (NHCC) Albuquerque Journal Theatre stage this holiday season, December 15-17. Presented by Festival Ballet Albuquerque and the NHCC, with choreography by artistic director Patricia Dickinson Wells and a full live orchestra conducted by Maestro Guillermo Figueroa, the event has a history of selling out most shows as tickets are in high demand. Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. each day, with 2 p.m. matinees Saturday and Sunday. Ticket prices range from $14 to $49, with $2 discounts for seniors, children, and NHCC members. Tickets are available from the NHCC Box Office by calling (505) 724-4771 or at Nutcracker in the Land of Enchantment – (nhccnm.org)
The beloved holiday classic is transported to territorial New Mexico in the late 1800s, with added elements of the state’s heritage. Maria and her Nutcracker travel to the Land of Enchantment to discover the magic of classical swirling snowflakes, waltzing flowers and hummingbirds, Spanish flamenco dancers, jackalopes, a roadrunner, coyote, Southwestern snakes, baby sheep and bumblebees, lively Fandangos, and a Cochiti Pueblo storyteller doll with children. Beautiful sets, Victorian-era western costumes, and pyrotechnic effects light up the stage in this unique and creative classical production.
The 13th anniversary of Nutcracker in the Land of Enchantment includes the famous Zozobra figure in a production showcasing New Mexico heritage and traditions while maintaining the classical grace and familiar appeal of the ballet’s origins. A live orchestra performs under the baton of Figueroa, who is music director of the Santa Fe Symphony, an internationally renowned conductor and violinist, as well as a 2012 Latin Grammy nominee. Festival Ballet Albuquerque’s Nutcracker in the Land of Enchantment is so unique that it was written about in the Wall Street Journal in December 2011 and in American Profile in 2012.
D.S. Crafts previously wrote in the Albuquerque Journal: “This Nutcracker… works splendidly… Far from distorting the story to fit the idea of the director, this production breathes fresh life into an often-overdone classic. Choreographer Patricia Dickinson Wells has added just enough local color to create a spectacular staging of a beloved classic… The beloved holiday ballet, set in 1890’s territorial New Mexico honoring local heritage & traditions, is classical, traditional, and fresh! The orchestra is conducted by Guillermo Figueroa. Choreographer Patricia Dickinson Wells is the consummate storyteller…”
There are more than 85 dancers in the cast, including 16 professional dancers, and over 325 originally constructed costumes in the production.
For more information or for group sales for The Nutcracker in the Land of Enchantment, please go to http://www.festivalballetabq.org, contact Festival Ballet Albuquerque at [email protected], or call 505-296-9465.
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