Dance Review: 'John Ringling's Circus Nutcracker — The World's Greatest Ballet'

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Dance Review: 'John Ringling's Circus Nutcracker — The World's Greatest Ballet'

Date: 12/19/2012

Currently 1 Response

1.
I have to disagree. I was excited to see this ballet, and so horribly disappointed. One of the wonderful things about ballet is seeing the form, line and fluidity of the dancer's movement. Whoever did the costuming for this extravaganza dressed the women in mid-calf skirts. Yes, there were some tutus, But too many long skirts. And the John Ringling character was wearing baggy trousers! There were times when the busy-ness of the sets made me want to close my eyes. Primary colors painted, pastel colors projected on the background, lights and draped fabric and out-of-place art deco constructions all fighting with each other and the dancers on stage. Two trapeze bars descend to the stage carrying dancers. . . and then they don't serve any purpose. Maybe they could have at least done a plie on the bar or something. Mable Ringling (in her long skirt) descends on a silver crescent moon. . . and it was totally unclear as to why that happened. She was not a dream-character, like the Sugar Plum Fairy or the Snow Queen. It was all so strained and illogical and overdone. Sorry , Sarasota Ballet, but you greatly disappointed. The dancing was not world class. The sets were more circus than ballet. The costumes were OK, but not all on the same stage at the same time. Did those clowns need to be in almost every scene? The entire ACT I was mostly mime. "When do they start dancing?" I kept wondering. I have been privileged to see some world class ballet, and it takes my breath away. Sorry, Sarasota. . . this was not world class ballet.
Emily Nutella
Wed 19th Dec 2012
at 11:03pm