THE NUTCRACKER
Where: The Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton St., Victoria
When: Nov. 29-Dec. 1
Tickets: $62-$120.25 from the Royal McPherson box office at 250-386-6121 or rmts.bc.ca
Tchaikovsky’s iconic ballet, The Nutcracker — performed at this time each year in cities across the globe — varies from production to production, though most adhere to the story of a young girl’s journey to a magical land on Christmas Eve.
Contemporary arrangements add and subtract, though children always play an integral part in the production. That’s good news for some young dancers from Greater Victoria, who have been cast in a variety of roles in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s upcoming production presented at the Royal Theatre by Dance Victoria.
With local casting included, well over 150 participants, including 27 company dancers, 45 members of the Victoria Symphony, 56 members of the children’s ensemble, and 35 backstage crew are involved this year.
“The impact of bringing Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Nutcracker to Victoria goes far deeper than the large-scale, iconic production our audiences will see at the Royal Theatre this weekend,” Gillian Jones, Dance Victoria’s executive director, said in a statement.
“[Dancers] have the unbelievable opportunity to join a professional ballet company onstage. This is an incredible experience, made even more special by the family and community members cheering these talented young people on.”
The team of young dancers from 14 dance companies in Greater Victoria will appear during the Royal Theatre run, which includes three night performances and two matinees between Nov. 29 and Dec. 1. Ursula Szkolak is the rehearsal co-ordinator for the children’s ensemble, and she has spent the past four months getting dancers between the ages of seven and 13 ready for their close-up.
“It has been a job teaching them the choreography,” Szkolak said with a laugh. Szkolak had to learn several parts in the ballet, as members of the Winnipeg company have not yet arrived in Victoria for pre-rehearsals, she said. “I have to be five different people at once so the kids see what is going on the stage.”
This is the first year Szkolak served as the liaison between the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, which is producing, and Dance Victoria, which is presenting, for the upcoming Nutcracker performances. But she is used to putting dancers through their paces. Szkolak teaches and runs auditions for the Victoria Academy of Ballet’s professional dance intensive, and began running Nutcracker auditions in a variety of capacities in September. Rehearsals have been ongoing for several weeks, a heavy load for some of the younger dancers, she said.
Szkolak would know; she has first-hand experience on the matter. Fifteen years ago, Szkolak was a young dancer with Victoria’s Canadian Pacific Ballet, and she found her way into a Nutcracker performance as a sugar plum fairy. She has appeared as professional in several Nutcracker productions in the years since.
“Every dancer has a close and intimate relationship to Nutcracker,” she said. “It’s ubiquitous. It’s everywhere. And it’s magical. “
Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Canuck-themed version — with everything from a hockey game and Mounties to a battle on Parliament Hill — is staged in Victoria on a bi-annual basis. This weekend’s engagement is just the third installment since 2018, which makes the weekend of events even more impactful for the young dancers. Many will play polar bears, who are the highlight of the show, and not simply for the proud parents in the audience, according to Szkolak.
“When they come out, everybody goes, ‘Awwwww….’ They are a big hit.”
Victoria-born Tymin Keown, now a company dancer with Royal Winnipeg Ballet, gives the event yet another layer of local flavour. Not that the production isn’t already overflowing with options that turn the spotlight on community. Dance Victoria’s Nutcracker Kids program supports local children and their families, who may be facing barriers keeping them from attending, with free tickets through partnerships with local community organizations.
Donations are still being accepted for Nutcracker Kids through dancevictoria.com or by contacting Dance Victoria at 250-595-1829.
As a thank-you to the community, Dance Victoria is offering family-friendly activities and photo opportunities one hour before each performance in the Royal Theatre lobby, for both ticket holders and Nutcracker Kids families. The end result is a big splash for the holidays, for those in the audience along with the participants on stage.
“It’s a big show, it’s a very elaborate production, with high production values,” Szkolak said. “This not to be taken lightly. All the kids have come in very, very aware of that, and the importance of the roles they have been given.”
