"Nutcracker" season has officially arrived for Minnesota dance lovers, with the annual rush of productions starting this week. Many of these shows look a lot like the Tchaikovsky ballet's 1892 premiere, with Clara (or Marie in some versions) unwrapping a gift Nutcracker who comes alive to lead an enchanted journey. Cue the tutus, tin soldiers and acrobatic Russians!
Then again, there are plenty of fresh spins on the classic. Take the hip-hop version opening Tuesday at the State Theatre. Or James Sewell Ballet's irreverent version with Barbie and Ken. Or St. Paul Ballet's feminist take.
5 traditional shows:
'Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy'
The full orchestra does wonders for the "Nutcracker" experience. That's a huge selling point for Minnesota Dance Theatre's "Nutcracker Fantasy," featuring 44 musicians conducted by VocalEssence artistic director Philip Brunelle. For more than 50 years, Minnesota Dance Theatre has brought back this classic production, first staged by company founder Loyce Houlton in the 1960s with a huge cast of professional dancers and students. It definitely offers the fullest experience in terms of music and dancing.
Dec. 15-23, State Theatre, Mpls., $30-$75, hennepin theatretrust.org
Ballet Minnesota's 'Classic Nutcracker'
Ballet Minnesota has been at this game for 30 years, growing its audience from 20 to 10,000 annually for its "Classic Nutcracker." This year's show features Instagram star Dusty Button as the Sugar Plum Fairy. Trained at both the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet and London's Royal Ballet School, Button was a principal dancer at Boston Ballet before embarking on a career as soloist and choreographer.
Dec. 15-17, the O'Shaughnessy, St. Paul, $21-$46, oshag.stkate.edu
'The Great Russian Nutcracker'
See how the Russians do it. Presented by the Moscow Ballet, this show features a touring company of dancers from Russia and Ukraine. Moscow Ballet veers slightly from the traditional story: Instead of visiting the "Land of Sweets," young Masha travels with her Nutcracker to the "Land of Peace and Harmony," a world inhabited by 10-foot-tall puppets — including the lovely Dove of Peace puppet, operated by two dancers moving together as one bird.