Grand Rapids Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’ is the Christmas Joy West Michigan Needs
By Adrienne Warber
Yuka Oba-Muschiana and Josué Justiz in “The Nutcracker Experience,” Photo by Scott Rasmussen
There is a special Christmas magic that only Grand Rapids Ballet can create with each production of “The Nutcracker.” This year Grand Rapids Ballet celebrates their 10th anniversary of the holiday production, and the show carries the richness of a decade of the company’s dance artistry, Val Caniparoli’s gorgeous choreography, and the beautiful sets of Chris Van Allsburg and Eugene Lee. From the moment the audience hears the Tchaikovsky music played by the Grand Rapids Symphony and lays eyes on the Van Allsburg and Lee set, they are transported into Clara’s world.
Cassidy Isaacson as the Sugar Plum Doll, Photo by Tim Motley
The Grand Rapids Ballet Magic
For many West Michigan families, “The Nutcracker” has become a holiday tradition. “The Nutcracker” unifies people of all ages and walks of life as they come together to enjoy the classic ballet. Little girls twirl around in holiday dresses and little boys in dressy outfits skip around the lobby with their parents in barely contained excitement for the show. Families shop at the lobby holiday boutique for special “Nutcracker” theme gifts. Couples hold hands looking forward to the romance of the ballet. Some people are seeing “The Nutcracker,” perhaps their first ballet ever, for the first time. Others come to Grand Rapids Ballet’s “Nutcracker” every year, many for all ten years of the Van Allsburg-Lee-Caniparoli version. A few in the crowd also remember coming to the company’s earlier versions of “The Nutcracker.” There is an energy of happy anticipation in the air among the audience waiting for the show. They know that Grand Rapids Ballet’s show will carry them into a world of dreams and holiday joy. No matter what is happening in their lives, the ballet holds the promise of escaping into E.T.A. Hoffmann’s Christmas story with Clara and her Nutcracker Prince. There is something for everyone to enjoy at Grand Rapids Ballet’s “The Nutcracker.”
Photo by Ray Nard Imagemaker
‘The Nutcracker’ Performance’
Ballet Forever has been fortunate to cover “The Nutcracker” for all ten years of the Grand Rapids Ballet production featuring Val Caniparoli’s exquisite choreography and the beautiful set created by Chris Van Allsburg and Eugene Lee. The 2024-25 Season production holds a vibrancy of the decades of perfecting the performance. Grand Rapids Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” held eight performances on the weekends of Dec. 13-15 and Dec. 20-22 at DeVos Performance Hall in downtown Grand Rapids, MI. The dancing, choreography, costumes, set, and lighting all work together seamlessly to tell the story and bring the audience into Clara’s world.
Attila Mosolygo as Drosselmeier and Serafina Wagenveld as Clara, Photo by Tim Motley
The dancing is masterful and joyful. Grand Rapids Ballet company dancers and Grand Rapids Ballet School student dancers work well together. Both principal dancers and the corps de ballet perform with expert ballet technique and skillful acting for their roles. So many scenes look like lovely paintings with the combination of the dancing, choreography, and set. It is a delicious feast for the senses to hear the Grand Rapids Symphony play the famous Tchaikovsky music scores and experience the artful Grand Rapids Ballet dancing the beloved “Nutcracker” numbers with Caniparoli’s brilliant choreography on a stage filled with Van Allsburg’s gorgeous art. Lighting and effects blend well with the set creating cozy scenes like a smoking chimney and snowing on stage.
Original Artwork by Chris Van Allsburg, Courtesy of Grand Rapids Ballet
There are so many moments when the audience feels the Christmas magic along with Clara due to the dancing, set, lighting and effects all working together to create an unforgettable experience. The audience remembers their childhood wish of wanting their favorite toys to come to life when the Christmas tree grows and Clara finds herself the same size as her brother’s toy soldiers. Some children in the audience exclaimed in awe when they saw Dream Clara and the Nutcracker Prince’s journey across Lemonade Lake to Marzipan Castle in the boat driven by seahorses.
Yuka Oba-Muschiana as Dream Clara and Nicholas Schultz as the Nutcracker Prince, Photo by Tim Motley
The production has many noteworthy performances. Both Grand Rapids Ballet company dancers and Grand Rapids Ballet School student dancers give excellent performances to create “The Nutcracker” world. The sharing of the stage between the professional dancers and student dancers is part of the charm of the show.
Party Scene, Photo by Ray Nard Imagemaker
Attila Mosolygo is always a delightful Herr Drosselmeier. Mosolygo brings the blend of doting godparent and mysterious magician to the part who wants to bring Christmas magic to his favorite godchild like so many parents searching for the perfect gift during the holidays. His scenes with his assistants, danced by Tyler Diggs and Christopher Karhunen, are fun to watch. Mosolygo dances with expression that builds the Drosselmeier character who ushers in the story’s magic.
Grace DeJonge plays Clara Stahlbaum with the right mix of childhood wonder and imagination paired with lovely ballet technique to lead the audience into her dream. She dances well in scenes building the story in the party scene, especially interactions with Drosselmeier, and her brother, Fritz Stahlbaum, played by Cameron Mosolygo, who also did a great job.
Yuka Oba-Muschiana as Dream Clara and Josué Justiz as the Cavalier, Photo by Ray Nard Imagemaker
Rena Takahashi as Dream Clara and Julian Gan as Nutcracker Prince dance beautifully together, especially in their pas de deux at the end of Act I. Their pas de deux paired with the corps de ballet’s gorgeous snowflakes number is the highlight of Act I. The corps de ballet shines in “The Nutcracker” in both the snowflakes and flowers numbers. Grand Rapids Ballet has a strong cast of talented dancers in the corps de ballet.
Yuka Oba-Muschiana and Josué Justiz give an exquisite performance as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. They perform their pas-de-deux and solo numbers with expert technique and elegant artistry. Their performances stand out among the best in the show.
Snow Scene, Photo by Ray Nard Imagemaker
Other audience favorites of Act II include Sarah Marley as the Dew Drop Fairy and the popular Russian Caviar number danced by Anderson Da Silva, Tyler Diggs, and Nigel Tau. Marley dances the Dew Drop Fairy scenes with excellent and graceful technique. Da Silva, Diggs, and Tau dance with superb technique and athleticism in the Russian Caviar number.
Original Artwork by Chris Van Allsburg, Photo Courtesy of Grand Rapids Ballet
The success of Grand Rapids Ballet’s 10th anniversary production of “The Nutcracker” is obvious in the packed DeVos Performance Hall, the happy faces of all ages in the audience, and the loud applause for the dancers. It is clear this audience enjoyed themselves. As the 2024-25 Season “Nutcracker” production ends with eight successful performances, with Christmas and a new year coming, many West Michigan families will be looking forward to future Grand Rapids Ballet shows in 2025.
For more information on Grand Rapids Ballet, their annual “Nutcracker” program, and the company’s 2024-25 Season, please visit their website.
Party Scene, Photo Courtesy of Grand Rapids Ballet