By Rachel Ekstrom
It is that festive time of year again! Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Orpheum Dance Program (ODP) decks the halls and lights the stage in preparation for the 11th annual production of The Nutcracker at the Orpheum Performing Arts Center in Tannersville. This holiday show will be playing for six performances on December 5 & 6 and December 12 & 13, Saturdays at 2:00 & 7:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm. The ballet is choreographed by director of the Orpheum Dance Program and former Metropolitan Opera ballerina Victoria Rinaldi, in collaboration with The Ballet Hispanico School.
After an illustrious career with the Metropolitan Opera ballet, Rinaldi relocated from NYC to the Catskills. She found herself unable to stay out of the dance studio, seeing an opportunity to share her expertise with the Catskill community. Rinaldi is the director of the Orpheum Dance Program, where she trains young dancers in the area to perform at a high standard. Rinaldi bridges the gap between amateur and professional ballet and makes the artform more accessible and inclusive to local children.
The Nutcracker is a staple of ballet companies worldwide. What makes this production so special is the community involvement. Children from all around the Hudson Valley travel to Hunter, NY to rehearse! Many local children return every year, progress up the ranks, and are able to integrate with the guest dancers from NYC. This is a family affair as well, as many of the students’ parents participate, often appearing in the party scene in Act I. This production seeks to include as many people as possible, double casting roles or even creating a new role for a child who is especially passionate about being in a particular scene. “I want to make sure this performance vanquishes the notion that ballet is only for a certain body type or mindset. Every child deserves to be in a Nutcracker,” said Rinaldi. This approach helps those with the preconceived notion that ballet is an elitist or exclusive artform see that there is a place for everyone to get involved.
The Nutcracker is a time honored tradition, with a libretto based on a story by E.T.A Hoffman. This two-act ballet was originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. It follows the story of a young girl, Clara, who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and an epic battle against a Mouse King. Clara and the Prince then travel to the Land of Sweets, ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy, where she enjoys a celebration of sweets from around the world. To conclude the adventure, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her cavalier perform a pas de deux that audiences always look forward to. The Nutcracker first premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1892 and continues to be a holiday tradition.
The Orpheum Dance Program has a history of collaborating with some of the finest pre-professional ballet schools in NYC. Orpheum Dance Program’s most recent ballet, Cinderella, featured dancers from The Joffrey Ballet School. The Nutcracker this year will feature dancers from The Ballet Hispanico School. This model forges a beautiful relationship that benefits both the local dancers and their NYC counterparts. The local dancers further develop their skills alongside the pre-professional company. The dancers from the city get the valuable stage time that they need. “I knew I would be able to get dancers from my colleagues’ students because in the city they have a hard time giving aspiring professional dancers performance opportunities. It is so expensive to get a theater in the city,” said Rinaldi. This production standard has pushed Orpheum Dance Program students to perform to their greatest potential. Sydney Henson, a former student of Victoria Rinaldi and the first to play the role of Clara in ODP’s premiere production of The Nutcracker, has gone on to be a professional ballerina, most recently as a principal dancer with the Cleveland Ballet. You may recognize Sydney from this summer’s production of Cinderella, where she played the title role. She is one of many of Rinaldi’s students who have gone on to have professional dance careers.
This year’s Nutcracker features dancers from The Ballet Hispanico School, a NYC-based pre-professional dance program. Ballet Hispanico is America’s leading Latino dance company and the largest cultural institution of its kind in the United States. For over five decades, it has been celebrated for its bold repertory and exceptional training programs. The Ballet Hispanico School’s mission is to bring communities together to celebrate and explore Latino cultures through innovative dance productions, training, and community engagement. “When we audition for prospective students, we often speak about the exceptional performance and partnership opportunities available through our program,” said Blanca Huertas, director. “Collaborations such as this one are an important part of what makes our training experience so distinctive and attractive to young dancers seeking a bridge between training and the professional world.We are grateful for your belief in our students and our program. Opportunities like this inspire our dancers, broaden their artistic experiences, and help prepare them for future careers in dance.We look forward to continuing this partnership for many years to come.”
Six performances of The Nutcracker will be performed December 5 & 6 and December 12 & 13, Saturdays at 2:00 & 7:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm. The Orpheum Performing Arts Center is located at 6050 Main Street, Tannersville, NY 12485. For tickets, visit catskillmtn.org or call 518 263 2063.