The Brooklyn Ballet is presenting a fresh interpretation of the holiday classic with “The Brooklyn Nutcracker,” which runs from December 6 to 14, 2023, at the Theater at City Tech. This reimagined production incorporates the vibrant culture and traditions of Brooklyn, blending them seamlessly with the enchanting music of Tchaikovsky.
In the company’s rehearsal studio, the familiar melodies resonate as dancers move gracefully across the floor. Among them is Tristan Grannum, the ballet’s Director of Community Outreach. Grannum expressed his enthusiasm for evolving the traditional narrative of ballet: “I adore classical ballet, but classical ballet is not the only style that there is in the world,” he stated. This sentiment reflects the production’s intention to showcase a more inclusive performance that caters to a diverse audience.
Grannum’s journey began in a public school in Bushwick when a childhood field trip sparked his passion for dance. “That was like the moment where I was like, ‘I can do this on stage? I can dance for people? I can get paid to do this?'” he recalled, emphasizing how pivotal that experience was. This year, Grannum returns to the stage as the Snow King, partnering with Miku Kawamura, a dancer he has admired for nearly a decade.
Kawamura commented on the unique cultural influences that inspire this modern take on “The Nutcracker,” saying, “Nowhere else can have this, only Brooklyn.” The production is celebrated for its diversity, featuring elements such as Native American hoop dance, Middle Eastern belly dance, and Brooklyn-inspired street styles.
Artistic director and founder Lynn Parkerson elaborated on the production’s innovative approach. “We use that beautiful music, but we also make some space in it for the flamenco castanets, for an accordion, for the Ukrainian Hopak,” she explained. Under her leadership, the Brooklyn Ballet has created what she describes as a bridge between tradition and innovation.
“The Brooklyn Nutcracker” aims to present ballet in a manner that is both beautiful and accessible. Parkerson stated, “This ‘Brooklyn Nutcracker’ is a new way to do something while keeping the tradition of ballet beautifully presented and alive and welcoming others into that world.”
Grannum’s commitment to the art form extends beyond performance. Through the company’s Elevate outreach program, he works with students who may not otherwise have access to ballet. “I am trying to give back to the students that never necessarily had access for arts education, because at the end of the day, we want to see ballet become more diverse,” he said.
The Elevate program offers classroom instruction, subsidized performance tickets, and scholarships designed to broaden opportunities for young dancers. Parkerson reflected on her own transformative experience with public school outreach, noting, “It’s just a bit of exposure to a real dancer and just falling in love with the form.”
As audiences prepare to experience “The Brooklyn Nutcracker,” they can anticipate a performance rich with the cultural tapestry of Brooklyn, promising a holiday celebration unlike any other.
