Day 33: The Nutcracker

It's hard to sell two boys on the ballet.  Every year our friends the Novaks invite us to see Molly dance in the Westside Ballet's production of the Nutcracker at the Wadsworth theater, and every year we never seem to make it.  This year I vowed I would take my sons to see the show.  We rallied with Dana and Liv, made it in a nick of time (OK, we were late, but we almost made it in time).  


The Westside Ballet's production of The Nutcracker is a Los Angeles tradition 

dating back to 1973. Brought to life by falling snow and a Christmas tree that grows, Westside Ballet's Nutcracker is not only the longest running Nutcracker production in Los Angeles history — it's the closest to George Balanchine's original version in quality, integrity, and musicality.

I thought Beckett would really like it and Aidan would be luke warm, but it was the other way around.  Beckett, who stayed up too late at a sleepover lost interest early on, but Aidan stuck with it.  He really appreciated Molly's talent, even if there were moments when he was ready for the ballet to be over.  There was one dance where the ballerinas moved so swiftly up on their toes (which you could not see underneath the long costumes) Aidan said it looked like they were gliding on wheels.   Liv and Dana loved it.  As for me, I have always had a thing for Tchaikovsky's music, and for this show.  It was great to see all the younger kids getting to take part, and the more mature, experienced dancers who took center stage were very graceful and gifted.  Molly has danced in this production for several years, and has developed into quite a talented and poised performer.  It was a treat to watch her.  The show was a heavy dose of holiday confection.  I have sugar plum fairies dancing in my head.