New York Dance Theatre, under the direction of former New York City Ballet soloist Frank Ohman, will present its 37th season of “The Nutcracker” at Hofstra University on Saturday, Dec. 15 and Sunday, Dec. 16 with performances each day at noon and 5 p.m.
Ohman’s production is the largest Nutcracker on Long Island and the only one performed in the tradition of New York City Ballet’s Lincoln Center version.
Special guest artists Daniel Ulbricht and Brittany Pollack of New York City Ballet return to perform as the Sugarplum Fairy and her Cavalier.
Ulbricht, a principal dancer at New York City Ballet has also taught students at the Ohman School of Ballet, a division of New York Dance Theatre, as a master class guest teacher and in his role as artistic director of the elite New York State Summer School of the Arts ballet program in Saratoga Springs. Brittany Pollack was recently on Broadway as “Louise” in Carousel.
Through the years, Frank Ohman has created original dances and scenes which have been incorporated into the ballet and set his production apart from others on Long Island, but as a former student and soloist under George Balanchine he is one of a select few authorized to use the original pas de deux choreography of his mentor.
Ohman will continue his tradition of playing the role of the grandfather in the party scene that opens the ballet. The role of Clara’s mysterious godfather Herr Drosselmeier will be played by former New York City Ballet soloist Robert Maiorano.
In his early career, Maiorano was the first boy to play the role of Clara’s brother, Fritz, in New York City Ballet’s production (a role previously played by girls), and was one of the original Princes in Balanchine’s production in the late 1950s.
With the elegant Christmas Party Scene, the drama of the magical growing Christmas Tree, the Battle of the Toy Soldiers and Giant Mice, the live Snow Storm, and the brilliant dancing in the Land of the Sweets, “The Nutcracker” appeals to all ages.
In all, a cast of 80 children, pre-professional and professional dancers will bring this classic story ballet to life on the stage of the John Cranford Adams Playhouse. The children’s roles are performed by students of the Frank Ohman School of Ballet in Commack, representing a variety of towns in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
Tickets for this full production ballet are $42.00 and $32.00 (seniors and children 12 and under) available at www.ohmanballet.org or 631.462.0964.
