Verity Ballet presents the timeless classic The Nutcracker at TOT
By Emma Palova | contributing writer
Get ready for a night of Christmas magic at The Old Theater (TOT) in downtown Lowell, decked out for the holidays. Verity Ballet will be performing the holiday classic, The Nutcracker, in the historic venue for the first time on Dec. 16 at 7 pm.
Immerse yourself in the timeless story about a girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life on Christmas Eve and wages a battle against the evil Mouse King, based on a short fantasy story by E.T. A. Hoffman. The story was first choreographed by Marius Petipa, and composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky; the score has become one of his most famous compositions.
“We wanted to perform in the heart of Lowell,” said Verity Ballet co-founder, Noah Trulock, with his wife, Hannah. “We feel connected to it ,since it is our home. The Old Theater has a history to it, and we wanted to be able to continue the tradition of using the venue for live performance.”
Verity Ballet will be using some of the ballroom students in the performance, including Lisa Reed and Mansel Reed, dancing in the party scene.
“It’s important for the kids to get used to performing Nutcracker, as almost every ballet school and professional company performs a version,” Hannah said. “It’s always advantageous to be familiar and have the practice under your belt. It becomes something very nostalgic for not only the dancers but the audience, too.”
The repertoire used in Nutcracker, although a staple for all ballet companies, includes a wide variety of choreography that is useful for building the foundation for a solid ballet program, according to Noah.
The two-hour ballet performance has been cut to 30 minutes by cutting some filler out of the beginning party scene, and Verity Ballet is performing four of the divertissements in The Land of Sweets- Chinese Tea, Spanish Chocolate, Reed Flutes, and the Sugarplum Variation. The company will add some of the bigger numbers next year, such as Snowflakes and Flowers.
“However, it is still complete and I think it is much easier to follow the story, especially with the added voiceover narration to explain some of the pantomime or movements,” Hannah said. The movements or miming are used to communicate in story ballets.
In the main roles, Audrey Alexander dances as Clara, Lowell High School student, Connor Rapson, plays the Nutcracker, and Noah Trulock as Uncle Drosselmeyer, who is one of the co-directors. “Connor began dancing a year ago; it’s outstanding what he’s been able to accomplish so quickly,” Hannah said. “Audrey has danced for me for many years, and she is a wonderful young talent with an amazing work ethic.”
The dancers have been picked from the Verity Ballet dance school, while some reached out from other studios in search of more performance opportunities. “We are perfect for that,” Hannah said. “Everyone auditioned separately by taking a Verity class and was evaluated.” However, there will be a group audition for the Ensemble for any new, existing, and prospective members for the spring performances on January 13 from 1:30 pm to 2 pm, ages 6 to 10, from 2 to 3 pm for ages 11+.
“I love the enchanting music composed by Tchaikovsky, which is now synonymous with the holiday season,” Noah said. “The mix of fantasy, adventure, and grandeur in this story is magical, and it has a timeless appeal that families will love.”
Verity Ballet owners love TOT for its amount of space and the versatility it has. “We utilized the marquee quite a bit,” Noah said. “We always get a lot of inquiries, with it being right on Main Street, with the foot traffic and people driving past.”
The couple hopes that people will get familiar with Verity Ballet and all that it has to offer, for both students and audiences. The company offered sneak previews at Maple Ridge and Heather Hills assisted living facilities. “These kids are getting to perform and share their gifts, and are reaching out to the community in a big way,” Noah said. “We want everyone to be able to see them shine.”
Hannah has danced in 10 Nutcrackers, between Grand Rapids Ballet and Indianapolis Ballet; she has choreographed a shorter version of Nutcracker excerpts and has built on that in the current version. She has danced from the smallest roles as Angel, all the way up to Clara, Snow Queen, and Dew Drop. “It has always been a tradition for me, and one very near and dear to my heart,” Hannah said. “I have a good sense of how to create, dance, and teach a wide variety of parts in this ballet.”
Noah’s first performance in the Nutcracker ballet was at age 30, at Indianapolis Ballet as the Nutcracker and the Chinese Tea. “There were so many kids who had been doing it since they were nine, so it was surprising to all of them when they found out it was my first one,” he said.
The couple hopes that families will be able to get out and experience live dance in the ballet performance. “The experience of live dance is so much different, as anything can happen,” Noah said. “You get to feel a connection to the performance and the dancers themselves.”
Verity Ballet is passionate about keeping prices accessible and bringing ballet to everyone. There will be a free performance at the Lowell Library on Jan. 4.
“It isn’t intimidating,” Hannah said. “There will be lots of other kids, and they are much more likely to sit through and enjoy a fast-paced version like this one.”
Tickets are available at https://www.etix.com/ticket/o/15480/verityballet For more info go to: https://www.verityballet.com/home
