By Mabel Pais

The Nutcracker is the perennial favorite of generations of children and “children at heart,” Igor Levin

“[NJPAC] has a great stage. It really is a beautiful theater. Shows always come out looking nice in that space,” Igor Levin

The State Ballet Theater of Russia’s crystalline clarity is hard to match.  The dancing is vivacious, secure and diamond sharp,” San Diego Union Tribune.

[The State Ballet Theater of Russia’s] The Nutcracker is sure to make some magical memories this holiday season!

The Nutcracker, the 3rd and last ballet of Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky, was completed a year before his death in 1893.

The ballet ingeniously combines the straightforward open-hearted joy of a child with the deep philosophical reflection of the composer on life and death, beauty of the jest in the name of love and happiness.  The libretto or book for The Nutcracker comes from Marius Petipa based on the literary material of the fairy tale by the German romanticist Hoffman.

Tchaikovsky created a symphonic poem about a young innocent girl, Masha, standing at the threshold of the great world out there, dreaming about happiness and defeating evil.  The music paints a vivid picture of the children’s world, their joyful games, Masha’s magical dreams, which are sometimes quite uneasy and sometimes full of happiness.

The treasured holiday adventure follows Masha’s journey through a fantasy world of fairies, princes, toy soldiers, and an army of mice.  A thrill to the same authentic Russian choreography that is performed in Moscow by the famous Bolshoi Ballet and set to Tchaikovsky’s beloved music, including “Waltz of the Flowers”, “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”, and “Waltz of the Snowflakes,” the entire family will love this magical experience filled with spectacular sets and beautiful costumes.

The incomparable State Ballet Theater of Russia presents the beloved classic, The Nutcracker, featuring traditional choreography and sparkling imagery. Internationally renowned, The State Ballet Theater of Russia brings The Nutcracker to life through graceful costumes, enchanting sets and astonishingly beautiful dances set to Tchaikovsky’s musical score.

The company is dedicated to maintaining a solid tradition of superior Russian classical dance. With a company over 55 superb dancers, they have drawn critical acclaim in performances throughout Europe, as well as the United States.

In this production, the captivating story involves the family-feud of the Montagues and Capulets brought to life thanks to the talent of the acclaimed Bolshoi Theatre Ballet Choreographer Mikhail Lavrovsky who is also the show’s producer.

The State Ballet Theatre of Russia was founded by Maya Plisetskaya, a legendary dancer and former principal dancer of The Bolshoi Theatre Ballet.

For 17 years, Levin, President and CEO of Hollywood Stars International Management, Inc., has been coordinating and organizing Russian ballet tours in the States to great success.

Levin spends almost half the year preparing all aspects necessary to bring to the United States a full production ballet company.

“When the company finishes a tour in February, I start on a new one right away – around mid-February,” he said, adding that the lengthy process includes choosing amongst a number of ballet companies, organizing the costumes and sets, bringing all necessary items over to the states, scheduling, booking travel and hotel arrangements, as well as obtaining visas for all the dancers and workers associated with the ballet company.

One of the frequent venues Levin likes to set up as part of the tours he organizes is NJPAC – mostly due to the welcoming nature of all who work there.

“They are great,” Levin said. “They are willing to work with those from another country and are very accommodating and very friendly. I always enjoy working with them.”

Not only are the people a main factor as to why Levin chooses NJPAC as a stop to the ballet tours, but the venue is also a selling point.

“[NJPAC] has a great stage,” he said. “It really is a beautiful theater. Shows always come out looking nice in that space.”

“There is family history, but this production is much more modern,” Levin said alluding to the choreography. “It is modern, but it is rooted in the basics of traditional ballet.”

The State Ballet Theater of Russia’s The Nutcracker is sure to make some magical memories this holiday season!

The Nutcracker will be performed at NJPAC on Saturday, December 16 at 3 p.m.

For additional information on The Nutcracker and NJPAC, please visit www.njpac.org.

(Mabel Pais is a freelance writer.  She writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health and Wellness, and Spirituality)