Nutcracker didn't disappoint

The Russian Imperial Ballet Company's version of The Nutcracker was a delight to watch.

It is the quintessential Christmas ballet as well as being quite likely the most performed ballet around the world, and the Russian Imperial Ballet Company's version of The Nutcracker did not disappoint when it came into town last week.

For one night only, the TSB Showplace was transformed into a magical dreamworld of yesteryear as the talented dancers took to the stage and retold this classic tale by E T A Hoffmann.

For the purposes of this review, I was accompanied by my eight-year-old daughter and watching the ballet through her eyes as well as my own re-enforced just how fantastic this production was.

As any theatre-goer knows, sitting still on a seat for a long time can be a difficult feat, especially if you are eight, however when the curtain went down on the first act, some 50 minutes after it had first gone up, my daughter was surprised.

"Is it already the intermission, we haven't been here long."

The performance was so enchanting and we were so immersed in it we really had lost track of time.

That's not to say the ballet was without flaws, I personally found it a leap (or perhaps a grand jeté) too far to have Fritz, Clara's brother danced by a female dancer.

While she was a skilful dancer, it just left the interaction between Fritz and Clara a little less exciting somehow.

Excitement was also a little lacking in the battle between the soldiers and the rats, the technique and choreography was perfect, but the passion muted.

Overall however, this was a fantastic start to a wonderful ballet, and any criticism should not overshadow the sheer magic of the overall performance.

The star of the show in the first act had to be Vitautas Taranda in his role as Drosselmeyer.

From his first moment on stage, he commanded the room.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on him, and he played his part perfectly.

It was also a pleasure to watch him working with the young local dancers, from the Patten Academy of Dance in New Plymouth, who had been selected to take part in the performance.

Taranda encouraged and supported the youngsters each time they were on stage, and his interaction with them enhanced the portrayal of the genial Drosselmeyer.

My fellow, younger, reviewer was enchanted by all of the ballet, but asked for her favourites, says the Waltz of the Snowflakes was a particular stand-out.

She was especially thrilled to see Mayela Marcos dancing, as she had already met her before the show, selling programmes and souvenirs.

And perhaps this is one of the particular charms of this ballet company, the accessibility and friendliness of the dancers at moments such as that.

Act two was just as magically enchanting as the first, with the young gnomes being particularly entertaining to watch.

Lina Seveliova's Clara and Nariman Bekzhanov's Nutcracker Prince were a perfect pairing, with both dancers showing why they are the company's principals.

It wasn't just the excellent technique they demonstrated, but also their whole stage presence.

Seveliova perfectly captured some of the gaucheness of a young girl on the cusp of her teen years in the first act but moves seamlessly to a young woman in love with her handsome Nutcracker prince in the second.

Bekzhanov's prince was graceful and hypnotic to watch, and his partnering is as skilful as his technique.

Just before the second act began, the audience were shown a show reel of next year's touring production, A Festival of Russian Ballet, and it is no surprise to see tickets to that show are now on my daughter's Christmas wish list (along with a nutcracker doll - ideally one which turns into a handsome prince of course).

By the end of the show we were all as in love with The Nutcracker as Clara was with the eponymous doll and I don't doubt many audience members will also be rushing to purchase tickets to the next Russian Imperial Ballet Company production.

- See www.russianballet.com.au to see the next tour dates for the Russian Imperial Ballet Company.