Ballet BC
Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet: Nutcracker

Dates and Venue 15 – 16 December 2012, 7.30pm (Sat & Sun matinees 2pm) | Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Choreography Galina Yordanova Performers Martina Prefontaine, Eric Nipp, Sarah Davey, Yayoi Ezawa and Egor Zdor Music Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Reviewer Michael Pink


One of the most illustrious ballet companies in North America graced the stage of the Queen Elizabeth theatre with a sparkling rendition of Nutcracker. Act I featured The Christmas Party with enchanting dance scenes such as Clara, The Battle and The Magical Forest. Act II presented The Kingdom with a rousing and inspirational close that delighted the audience.

RWB is led by artistic director Andre Lewis who has completed 37 distinguished years with the RWB as both artistic director and dancer. With a deft artistic touch and full creative repertoire, he has managed to keep the company fresh yet loyal to its classical foundation.

The distinguished choreographer for the performance was Galina Yordanova who hails from Russia. She has taught all over the world and brings a fine Russian technical training to the company for this timeless Christmas classic. Dance performers for the evening included Martina Prefontaine in the role of Clara, Eric Nipp as Drosselmeier, Sarah Davey as the Sugar Plum Fairy, Yayoi Ezawa as Josephine’s aunt and Egor Zdor as Edouard who is Josephine’s fiancé.

We expect fine classical dancing from these seasoned ballet dancers and true to form the dancing reached a high level of both beauty and technical brilliance.

No ballet can reach the intended mood and beauty without lush and exquisite costumes which were provided by the talented Paul Daigle and Tchaikovsky’s score allowed the ballet to reach sublime musical quality.

It is a challenge to retain the magic of a timeless classic such as Nutcracker yet keep the performances creative and innovative. Such a fine balance was achieved with spectacular results by Lewis and the dedicated, beautiful dancers of the RWB. It is the singular reason why audiences return performance after performance to this Canadian national treasure.

© 2012 Michael Pink