Nutcracker - Streaming Live!

Hey everyone! Just found this via the Ballet News Facebook site and thought it was too great not to pass along.  If you're not making it to a Nutcracker this year, or just can't wait another second to get some Tchaikovsky into your system, Staatsoper.TV will be streaming John Neumeier's Nutcracker tonight!  Here's the link with all the info, hope you can check it out and Happy Nutcrackering! 

Photo by Wilfried Hosel

A Sweet Sugar Plum Party

My holiday gift and to-do list has been in development since September, and now that it's November, I can feel the buzz of the holidays in the air!  

I'm excited to announce The Ballerina Birthday will be a new offering a new holiday themed party for the 2012 Holiday Season: The Sugar Plum Party!  Treat your Sugar Plum and her friends to a festive party that's sure to sparkle and delight!

The Sugar Plum Party will draw its inspiration from the holiday classic story of The Nutcracker.  Have this timeless story read aloud for 10 of your guests, who will be dressed to the nines in our fantastic tutus and dress up items that make our parties so unique.  Party leaders will guide guests through dancing their own version of The Nutcracker, using Tchaikovsky's music and interactive props!  End the afternoon with a special holiday craft that guests take home to remember their special day!

This is a seasonal and limited offer, and one we're confident will make your holiday season magical.  Bookings are limited, but we have a few select weekends still available! Additionally, if you book a  Sugar Plum Party before December 1, receive 15% off the Performance Fee!  We're also extending this offer to any Ballerina Birthday Party!  We can't wait to celebrate the holidays with you!

A Sugar Plum Fairy Wand: just one of the crafts guests

can do at the Sugar Plum Party!

A plum-y tutu perfect for The Kingdom of Sweets!

Fall for Organization (Ballet Style)!

It's really starting to feel like fall.  Being a Californian, I probably have no real sense of "fall", but by Western standards, it's getting cooler in the mornings and evenings, and a few leaves are starting to whirl around by the occasional blustery wind.  Fall reminds me of many things: back to school, holiday preparations (including The Nutcracker), soups and warm foods, scarves and new shoes.  If you're anything like me, you might have a strong (ok, slightly obsessive) organizational bone in you around the fall season as well.  Maybe it's the influx of activities, projects and holidays on the horizon, but this time of year tends to kick me into organizational mode.  Here are some crafty ballet inspired items to keep you on track, or give you some gift ideas!

Calendars are always a great gift idea, and are easy to find this time of year!  A quick Google search will land you with plenty of options, and customization is easy these days with sites like Zazzle and Shutterfly.  You may even be able to find some vintage options, which I always love.  Nothing like a great old black and white of Fonteyn and Nureyev to get my nostalgia flowing.

Love the two above ideas for organizing a work/study space (thanks Pinterest)!  Cover the drawers and old cans with wrapping paper of your choice (there are many ballet and ballerina paper wrappings out there!) and voila! A dressed up and pretty container for all your papers, pens and accoutrements!  (Another idea: get the kiddos in on it and use butcher paper.  Let them go at it coloring and decorating the paper and they'll be able to see their own creations as the decoration).  Happy Fall, and Happy Organizing Ballet Lovers!

Nutcrackers on Parade

To say that my family has a collection of Nutcrackers may be an understatement.  'Brigade' or 'Regiment' might be more appropriate.  Like I suppose all collections do, our Nutcracker collection started as a modest appreciation for the craftsmanship and as I grew up and became more involved in dance and my own performances of The Nutcracker, our collection increased to include a Mouse King nutcracker to commemorate the year I played a mouse, or a fly fisherman Nutcracker to include my dad's love of the hobby.  One summer I spent touring Europe with my high school choir I bought a beautifully carved and pristinely white snowflake Nutcracker from the homeland of Nutcrackers, Germany.

The Magic of Nutcracker website has some interesting facts on the history of these wooden creations:

"According to German folklore, nutcrackers were given as keepsakes to bring good luck to your family and protect your home. The legend says that a nutcracker represents power and strength and serves like a trusty watch dog guarding your family from evil spirits and danger. A fierce protector, the nutcracker bares its teeth to the evil spirits and serves as the traditional messenger of good luck and goodwill."

Our collection has gotten too big to house on just one or two shelves during the holidays when we pull out our festive decor. They've invaded many nooks and crannies, and I wanted to share some of my favorites with you.  If you have a budding ballerina who can't get enough of The Nutcracker, Sugar Plum Fairies, and the like, you may find yourself in the market to start your own collection, or if not, they are always just a fun and festive decoration to deck the halls!

A selection of the brigade....

Firefighters Pirates and Soldiers, oh my!

The two on horses are two of my favorites, they're rather rare and these two keep each other good company

The Snowflake Nutcracker from Germany and one of my favorite "squatty body" Nutcrackers purchased at a Sacramento Ballet Nutcracker performance years ago.

Minis from many nations...

Decking the mantle...

It's beginning to look a lot like....

Halloween is over, the time has changed and there is definitely a chill in the air.  While Christmas and holiday decorations are already pouring out of stores, I'm not quite ready for it yet, I do like to have my Thanksgiving first and Christmas in due course, but what this month of November really gears me up for is... Nutcracker season!  And, holiday ballets in general.  Living in the Bay Area, we are so lucky to have so many fantastic performance companies and opportunities to see a variety of holiday shows.  So, I thought I'd take today's blog to share a few of my favorites with you and encourage you to see as many of them as you can!  There's something for everyone, if you're looking for a classic Nuctracker that's kid friendly or something a bit more entertaining for the adults, check out the list I've complied as your guide to all the holiday dance options jete-ing towards a Bay Area stage near you.

Let's start with the most traditional of holiday ballets: The Nutcracker.  San Francisco Ballet does a lovely production with grandiose costumes and sets (above is a clip from their Waltz of the Snowflakes). SFB does theirs with a slight twist; the original time frame of the ballet has been moved to the World Fair in 1915 San Francisco (traditionally the ballet is set in the late 1800's in Germany).  This year it hits the stage at the War Memorial Opera House from December 9-27.  Or, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for it to air on PBS, each year around this time they air the 2007 recorded version.  There are of course, many school productions that are nicely done as well, the two that are closest to my heart are Community Youth Center's in Concord and Benicia Ballet Theatre.  Having invested much of my own time and love into both of these productions, it is not only heart warming to see the tale of the Nutcracker played out but to see young dancers invest their own talent and love into a story that is magical and captivating for many different reasons.  Check out their websites for information on performance days, times and tickets!

Benicia Ballet Theatre's The Nutcracker

Not all holiday ballets are your usual Nutcracker though, Sonoma Ballet Conservatory brings a different magical tale, The Magic Toy Shop to the Sebastiani Theatre in Sonoma November 19th and 20th.  It's a refreshing plot change from The Nutcracker, but equally magical: a shopkeeper’s beloved toys come to life and perform for prospective customers, until the day when two spoiled girls enter the store with their mothers and decide to purchase and separate a pair of Can-Can Dolls.  The night before the families are to return for their selections, the toys share an evening of farewell performances before the Cossack declares they should rebel and fight to keep the Can-Can Dolls from such a wretched fate as being purchased by spoiled children.  But, I couldn't tell you the ending... you'll have to go see it for yourself!  

Sonoma Ballet Conservatory's The Magic Toy Shop

Additional companies that do a variation upon the usual holiday ballet are Smuin Ballet with its Christmas Ballet, ODC Dance with the Velveteen Rabbit.  I've been a fan of Smuin's Christmas Ballet for many years, it has a wonderful variety that is entertaining to both children, ballet goers, and dance newbies.  From tap dancing Christmas trees to sultry Santa Babies, this ballet will definitely get you in the mood for the holiday season.  Here's the website for more information.  ODC's The Velveteen Rabbit is a classic for many San Franciscans, and although I've never gotten the chance to see it myself, I've heard rave reviews and am hoping to see it this year.  ODC is well known for their ground breaking work, and I'm sure this ballet with choreography by KT Nelson and narrative based on Margery William's classic tale is well worth seeing.  Performances run from November 25-December 11th, click here for more information.

Do you have a favorite holiday dance show that I didn't list?  I'm always searching for new and exciting performances, so please let me know at theballerinabirthday@gmail.com!  I'm sure as the season gets underway I'll find more things to share, and would love it if you would share too!