Ballet
Extravaganza - Nutcracker 2004 |
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Marion Vogt
Photos:Michael Vogt
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Local ballet students, international dancers, popular Thai singer
Maneenuch Smerasut at the Chiangmai Ballet Academy joined forces
and proudly presented their third musical dance play 'Nutcracker
2004' at the Kad theatre. Mom Luang Preeyapun Sridhavat, Producer,
Director and Choreographer introduced many baby ballerinas to
the magical world of ballet. The Nutcracker provides children
with a unique opportunity to learn new disciplines - punctuality,
musical appreciation, stage presence, role characterization
and choreographic memory, said Mom Luang Preeyapun. The performance
itself has been adapted to add ' Thai spice' and a greater variety
of dance styles than one would see in the classical version.
Nutcracker 2004 in cluded not only classical ballet, but also
contemporary, hip hop, jazz, tap, flamenco and Latin dances.
The basic story of the nutcracker remained the same the child
Clara was given a nutcracker turned into a handsome prince and
conquers the rat king and takes her on a journey where snowflakes
dance before they are welcomed by the Sugarplum fairy in the
lands of sweet and desserts.
The leading dancers are outstanding, in particular Peera Phanlooktown,
the Nutcracker prince, who is a highly accomplished professional
dancer who left a lasting impression on the audience, after
he performed a string of breathtaking leaps and jumps. Clara,
played by Orawee Tadtieng, a dance teacher herself, is the quintessence
of elegance and innocence. The Rat Queen performed by Noochanart
Saiudom shows the style of captivating dancer which makes her
stand out. Sarassanan Chantharabart as
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the
Sugarplum Fairy is so beautiful to watch and her grace and style
show why she has won so many dance competitions in the past.
With over 300 dancers and performers it is impossible to mention
every single person but the overall impression the audience
got was simply breathtaking. The costumes were dazzing and colorful,
and the modernized story gave everbody in the audience their
moment of joy and fun.
The dances in the wonderland of sweets and desserts were from
fifferent countries and included Italy, Spain Arabia, Russia,
Thailand America and Africa, with students and principal dancers
leading from one highlight to the next. The Russian hip hop
dancers with their whirls, artistic jumps and energy brought
applause from the audience, as did the Flamenco performance
with Supreeda Wongsansee in the lead and her three followers
dressed in red and black.
It was a colorful performance, with graceful pas de deux, the
cutest children, innocent snowflakes, lovely flowers, divine
elves and evillrats and ended where it began, with Clara waking
up, wondering where fantasy ends and growing up begins.
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Princess of Arabia (Rafaela Kraushaar) on her way to become a professional dancer.
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| Clara dancing with the Nutcracker prince, with
the snowflake queen (Kara Scheuerman) behind. |
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