One of the best things about The Nutcracker is that it comes in all different forms. While the music (usually) stays the same, each region and culture adds their own special touch to the holiday classic. Today we have the Bolshoi Ballet performing what we call the “Arabian Coffee” solo in the George Balanchine Nutcracker.… Read More
Daily Dance Break: Christmas in July – “Nutcracker:The Motion Picture”
Here is a scene from Act I of Nutcracker: The Motion Picture, a film version of the ballet created by Kent Stowell (founder of Pacific Northwest Ballet and father of our own Artistic Director Christopher Stowell). The production was designed by the author and illustrator Maurice Sendak who is probably most famous for his children’s… Read More
Daily Dance Break: Christmas in July – Kirkland & Baryshnikov
We’re continuing our Christmas in July celebration in honor of OBT’s Korean summer tour to perform George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker in Seoul and Buson. Today we have Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gelsey Kirkland in the 1977 Nutcracker video which often plays on public television during the holidays. Has the grand pas de deux ever been more… Read More
Roland Petit: Thrillingly Risque
Check out this wonderful biography on Roland Petit (January 13, 1924 – July 10, 2011), the choreographer behind what is arguably the most iconic version of Carmen to date. His Carmen scandalized London in 1949 but over time proved to be his biggest success. A wonderful way to remember a choreographer that spent his career bending… Read More
Daily Dance Break: Christmas in July – Mark Morris’ “The Hard Nut”
What’s that you say? It’s too early for the holidays? Not at OBT! In just a few weeks, the dancers will leave for our second annual South Korean summer tour to perform George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker in Seoul and Buson. So when OBT takes over Director Park next week for OBT Exposed, the company will… Read More
