Ratmansky's Nutcracker travels West

By Teresa Heiland, 13 December 2015

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“larger than life scenery, magical toy soldiers, mischievous mice, and sparkling snowflakes”

Reviewed at Segerstrom Center for the Arts: Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Costa Mesa on 11 December 2015

The Nutcracker (West Coast Première) (Alexei Ratmansky)

American Ballet Theatre

Aaron Scott, Dancer

Cassandra Trenary, Dancer

Hanna Marshall, Dancer

Claudia Schuman, Dancer

Gillian Murphy, Dancer

James Whiteside, Dancer

American Ballet Theatre's double bill is short and sweet in New York

Ivy Lin, 15th March

American Ballet Theatre presents Balanchine's Raymonda: Grand Pas Hongrois and Ratmansky's Firebird which showcases the company well and provides a strong contrast.

****1

A spectacular triple bill lifts ABT’s spring season in New York

Leigh Donlan, 13th March

A finely curated triple bill from American Ballet Theatre included works from Balanchine, Jiří Kylián and Alexei Ratmansky.

****1

NYCB: Ratmansky’s The Naked King is not satire, but good fun

Ivy Lin, 7th February

New York City Ballet presents a very entertaining quadruple bill which includes Alexei Ratmansky’s latest work, The Naked King, showing off the company’s comic talents.

****1

NYCB: Balanchine + Ratmansky program warms the audience

Ivy Lin, 20th January

NYCB has a winning triple bill with its Balanchine + Ratmansky program. Excellent dancing and contrasting works sends the audience home in buoyant mood.

*****

Dutch National Ballet's opener in New York: meandering and unfocused

Ivy Lin, 20th November

Dutch National Ballet returning to New York after more than 40 years should have been thrilling. The opening program, whilst beautifully danced, was somewhat muted.

***11

London City Ballet at the Linbury: joy and sorrow at its best

Deborah Weiss, 19th November

London City Ballet move into a new venue with absolute confidence and gravitas in a quadruple bill that says everything about their future and success.

*****

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Teresa Heiland

Teresa, who holds a PhD in Dance Education from New York University, teaches Dance Pedagogy, Somatics, and Laban Movement Analysis. Her research is presented in monographs, Geographies of Dance: Body, Movement, and Corporeal Negotiations, and Dance: Current Selected Research: A Twenty-Year Retrospective/Focus on Movement Analysis, and in Journal of Dance Education, Journal of Imagery in Sport and Physical Activity, and Research in Dance Education. She also reviews dance for LA Dance Review.

Ratmansky’s Nutcracker: Beautiful dancing and design, but a missed opportunity