BALLET THEATER FILMING ANNUAL ‘NUTCRACKER’ PERFORMANCE BY TARMO HANNULA
NOVEMBER 20 - 26, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE
SHINE ON Large
agricultural metal hoops, typically used for berry fields, will be used to create a tunnel of lights at the fairgrounds’ Holiday Lights.
Tarmo Hannula
4
F
or years, the annual “Nutcracker, Clara's Dream” was a winter holiday staple put on by the Santa Cruz Ballet Theater. With their own take of Tchaivovsky’s ballet, that was typically staged at the Santa Cruz Civic, Cabrillo College’s Crocker Theater and the Mello Center in Watsonville, something new is in the air.
The ongoing pandemic has shaken things up this season, but the show is still in the works, according to Artistic Director Diane Cypher. She said an alumni-driven film is being brewed up to replace the stage version and will be aired on the TV screen and possibly at an area theater. “Covid has been difficult, as we all know,” Cypher said. “We thought that the film would
be a way of giving back to local sponsors and as a good project to keep our dancers motivated.” Featuring 44 dancers and four “character artists,” the choreography by alumna Flora Chatwin tells the story of Clara’s Dream. This year various scenes have been filmed on locations around Santa Cruz featuring SCBT, including longtime sponsors of SCBT and local landmarks such as
Photo courtesy Action Studios
JOYFUL ENTERTAINMENT
ORCHESTRA Bassoonists Amy Duxbury and Gail Selburn are part of the orchestra during the Battle Scene of Santa Cruz Ballet Theater’s “Nutcracker, Clara’s Dream.”
