The Nutcracker

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Beth Skogen Photography

A past performance of "The Nutcracker" by Dance Wisconsin.

For its 44th season of The Nutcracker, Dance Wisconsin is "Marching Forward." The company's student dancers will be joined by guest performers (Maggie Batterman, Will Brighton, Cara Gary, Lucas Segovia), an orchestra and chorus for a full production of the holiday favorite, following last year’s pre-recorded version. Dance Wisconsin also is debuting a new version of the production's second act, with updated choreography and costuming aiming to eliminate cultural stereotypes. Tickets at artsticketing.wisc.edu.

press release: Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” has been a Christmastime staple since its American debut in the mid 1900s. The magical, action packed story immediately charmed audiences and has been the subject of countless adaptations over time; the ballet has moved from the stage to film and Tchaikovsky’s famous score remixed to evolve with modern technology and audiences. Dance Wisconsin intends to do just that with their 44th performance of the show: bring it into the modern era with new costuming, choreography, and concepts.

The tagline of this year’s Nutcracker, “Marching Forward,” has a double meaning for the company. First, it represents recovering from a difficult year when theaters were closed and practice time was limited due to COVID-19 restrictions. Dance Wisconsin still gave their students the opportunity to perform the choreography by creating “Nutcracker Sweets”, an abridged version of the show’s second act. The students were able to come into the studio, masked, and record the performance for their families. This year, Dance Wisconsin plans to bring back all the usual aspects that take their production to the next level: their live orchestra and choir and guest artists from the Joffrey Ballet and Big Muddy Dance Company.

COVID also gave the company directors time to reflect on potential changes for their next time on stage. This brings us to the second meaning of “Marching Forward”. In the second act of “The Nutcracker”, Clara is whisked away to the Land of Sweets where cultures from all over the world come together. Since 1892, the way we view and interact with other cultures has evolved, but the original choreography and costumes were rooted in harmful stereotypes that could alienate or offend audiences. With the generous support of Dane Arts and the Wisconsin Arts Board, Dance Wisconsin plans to do away with these outdated concepts while still creating a show that is meaningful for all families.

The individual dances are undergoing a name change; for example, the “Arabian” dance is now called “Meskouta”, a traditional Moroccan dessert. The new costumes being created by Dance Wisconsin’s talented sewing team will not include visuals that caricature a certain group. Tchaikovsky’s music and the new desserts still celebrate diversity, but they will do so in a way that does not stereotype other cultures.

Dance Wisconsin’s “The Nutcracker” will be December 18 and 19 at the Wisconsin Union Theater. For tickets or more information, visit dancewisconsin.org. There will be special appearances by the Dance Wisconsin Orchestra, the Monona Grove High School Singers, and guest artists Cara Gary, Lucas Segovia, Maggie Batterman, and Will Brighton.