How Nevada Ballet Theatre’s Production of ‘The Nutcracker’ is Unlike Any Other

Audiences at Nevada Ballet Theatre’s (NBT) production of “The Nutcracker” can experience it with the thrilling knowledge that this show remains the first and only of its kind.

Conceived by NBT choreographer James Canfield, and now running for its 10th year, this whimsical and dazzling version of the classic ballet was designed specifically for The Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall.

And Canfield truly delivers a visual masterpiece to mesmerize audiences of all ages, with elaborate sets and props built to fill every dimension of the stage to its fullest.

“What I really wanted to do with (the production) was utilize the entire space on the Reynolds Hall stage, so that every seat would have a good sightline,” Canfield says.

He fully achieves this, in capturing the classic tale by E.T.A. Hoffmann about a young girl named Clara, who receives a nutcracker as a Christmas gift, which then comes to life in the night and whisks her to a land of enchantment.

Featuring a cast of over 100 dancers, NBT’s production — running December 9 to 24 — features a deluge of stunning visuals, including mechanical toys come to life, on-stage snowfall, a rat army and even a peacock descending from the ceiling in an enormous cage.

“If it’s done correctly, you don’t notice any one single element,” Canfield says. “You notice the experience and the visuals all together.”

Larger-Than-Life Sets

NBT’s production sets itself apart with its multitude of grandiose set pieces, including a 30-foot Christmas tree, a 34-foot, multi-level Victorian dollhouse 15-foot grandfather clocks and a flying rocking horse.

“I felt strongly about putting (set pieces) on multiple levels, which I don’t think I’ve ever seen anywhere else in the world,” Canfield says.

Canfield conceived of the sets by drawing inspiration from creative masterminds, striving to channel the fanciful whimsy of Dr. Seuss books and the otherworldly, immersive nature of Tim Burton films.

“When you look at Tim Burton (films), he’s always of a different world that could be now or then or never or always,” Canfield says. “We see glimpses of that with ‘The Nutcracker,’ where you’ve got a (compelling) character and then you’re also in a fantasyland, where this girl’s in the middle of a dream.”

A Celebration of Global Dance

“The Nutcracker” remains particularly beloved for the ongoing surprises in the second act, when the prince entertains Clara with a series of performances by acrobatic and dazzlingly costumed dancers.

Some dizzyingly athletic, some comedic and some heartwarming, each dance features astonishing props, costuming and choreography that tops the last.

Many dances draw from cultures around the world, Canfield notes, giving audiences a taste of Spanish, Chinese and Russian styles.

“It’s an acknowledgment to the countries and their traditional dances, as well,” he says.

A Classic Holiday Experience

Even with large-scale set pieces and over 130 costumes to organize backstage, NBT has “The Nutcracker” down almost “like clockwork” after so many years, Canfield says.

The production’s magical elements make the ballet a holiday experience that Southern Nevadans appreciate year after year, he adds.

“The community has embraced it in a way that we all the hope ‘The Nutcracker’ should be,” he says.

SEE THE SHOW

NBT performs “The Nutcracker” December 9 to 24 – for tickets, CLICK HERE.