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Centennial State Ballet’s ‘Nutcracker’ goes virtual

Continuing a longtime local tradition.
Kaitlyn
Longmont High School senior Kaitlyn Floodeen. Image by Amanda Tipton Photography | FB- Amanda Tipton-Photographer | IG - @amandatiptonphotography

Ballet companies all over the world are suffering during the pandemic and for many that also means tried-and-true holiday performances of “The Nutcracker” — often the most popular show of the year — are off or at the very least dramatically different this year. Centennial State Ballet in Longmont is no exception. But rather than scratch the holiday favorite, the company has opted to stream a pre-recorded performance of the Christmas time classic in lieu of a live performance.

“The Nutcracker” will stream at 2 p.m. today, 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday and 2 p.m. Saturday  before it becomes available for purchase on New Years Eve. Virtual tickets to the streamed shows are available via the ballet’s website.

“Obviously rehearsal’s were much smaller this year because of local health guidelines,” said Laura Malpass, the ballet company’s community coordinator and the assistant director of “The Nutcracker.” “Some of the choreography we were able to restage from years past and some of it we had to completely redo. We were thinking about the filmed aspect of it. We’re thinking about what new ways can we tell the story using different camera angles?”

 

Party Scene Filming (EAD Kristin_Senior Marlena)Filming apart of The Nutcracker at the Callahan House, artistic director Kristin Kingsley adjusts the costume of Silver Creek senior Marlena Chorn. (photo by Matt Hagerman)

 

Filming was completed late last month at multiple locations. The performers range from kindergarteners new to the youth ensemble to graduating seniors. 

Centennial State Ballet was founded in 2012 by Kristin Kingsley and this is its 23rd performance of “The Nutcracker.” Kingsley is the executive artistic director of this year’s production.

“Many many companies had to just cancel this year,” Malpass said. “Kristin felt it was really important to continue to offer this performance opportunity both for our youth dancers and (to) be able to offer the Longmont community this holiday tradition. We have had families that have come for years and years to the live performance.”

One of the many changes to this year’s performance was the need to pre-record all of the music. Instead of a single chamber orchestra playing live in the pit, a variety of youth and professional groups were able to safely record their separate parts. They include the Skyline High School Jazz Band, the Longmont Youth Symphony and the Northern Colorado Harp Festival Youth Ensemble.

“They’re only this age once,” said Jennifer Kingsley-Sapien, treasurer of the Centennial Ballet Board of Directors. “Missing a year at this age is heartbreaking. Especially after we had to cancel our spring performance, we were committed to doing something this year that we wouldn’t have to cancel.”

Kingsley-Sapien’s son, Milo, an eighth-grader, is in his fourth year with the company and plays multiple roles in the upcoming show.

“This year - which is really unusual - the kids get to watch it with their families,” said Kingsley-Sapien. “I think there’s a little bit of that magic of Christmas Eve and the dreams you can have before getting up in the morning. I’ve heard from families all over, that they look forward to this every year.”

 

AbbySilver Creek junior Abby Spiegel prepares for the Snow Scene.(Courtesy of the Centennial State Ballet )

 

Malpass expressed thanks to the volunteers that helped make the unique performance possible, including people who donated decorative masks for dancers.

“We have one dancer, Helen, who loves to tell the story about how she’s been Clara, which is that main youth role,” Malpass said. “She’s also been Sugarplum, who all the little kids look up to. She’s been so many different parts in ‘The Nutcracker’ over the years and it’s been fun for her to be able to finish out senior year in this way even though it’s sad, not to be performing live on stage.”

Correction: This is Centennial State Ballet's 23rd performance of "The Nutcracker." That information was incorrect in the original posting of this story.