Great Performances, Nutcracker from English National Ballet
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / 49.1)
Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 8 PM
Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 1 AM
Experience the holiday classic in a new light, featuring over 100 dancers and musicians performing at the London Coliseum. Against an Edwardian London backdrop, this Nutcracker is reimagined to centralize Clara throughout the story. Set to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, the film features choreography by English National Ballet artistic director Aaron S. Watkin and Olivier Award winner Arielle Smith.
Principal dancers include Delilah Wiggins (Clara Child), Ivana Bueno (Clara Adolescent), Junor Souza (Drosselmeyer), Francesco Gabriele Frola (Nutcracker Prince), Rhys Antoni Yeomans (Nutcracker Doll), Emma Hawes (Sugar Plum Fairy), Aitor Arrieta (Sugar Plum Cavalier), Rentaro Nakaaki (Rat King) and Anna Nevzorova (The Ice Queen). Sets and costumes are by Dick Bird with lighting by Paul Pyant. Founded in 1950 as London Festival Ballet by English dancers Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin, English National Ballet has been opening up the possibilities of ballet, to move more people in more ways, ever since.