Nutcracker in January – Reimagined – Reloaded
Article by Alejandra Enciso Guzmán
The holiday season kept going beyond December with a very unique presentation of The Nutcracker. Although this version followed E.T.A. Hoffman’s story, it left the tutus behind in exchange for a fierce wardrobe and some mean hip hop dance moves. A Culture Shock Nutcracker – A Holiday Hip Hop Theatrical played at The Spreckels Theatre last weekend. A very unexpected show for all of those who are not familiar with Culture Shock San Diego. A nonprofit Hip Hop dance troupe, founded in 1993 by Angie Bunch. Dedicated to innovative performance, artist development, and community outreach.
The twist in the holiday classic also danced to Tchaikovsky’s score, mixing in different contemporary songs led by Drosselmeyer played by Pat Samokhvalof in a Prince (yes the artist formerly known as) type costume, following almost all of the numbers The Nutcracker entails. Instead of two dancing dolls that come out of a box and are wound up to start dancing, as a present to Clara and her family, Culture Shock presented two robots a boy and a girl with a DJ in the back a la Daft Punk. Something that turns out to be very interesting for young generations and older ones as well. The young generations are seeing something that resonates and inspires, watching people their age and younger. There where little, little kids there all the way to grown young adults. A range of 7 to 20 something, more or less…
The iconic Sugar Plum Fairy (Aimee Ferguson) and her Cavalier (Beau Fournier) had a very nice sequence dancing along Madonna’s ‘Vogue’ with Victorian type costumes included. The Flamenco dancers also had a twist presenting a mixture of Mexican, Spanish and techno, ending that sequence with the Arabian coffee to Jason Derulo’s. The merlitons where replaced with glove raving (hand dancing) which also turned out to be a very –on pointe– move. All in all, a very unique and fitted experience to start 2015 with a kick.
Troupe auditions!
If you are interested in joining the dance troupe, auditions will be held January 11th at 12:30pm
Afta Shock (25 years and older) Friday January 16th, 7:30pm
Mighty Shock (13 years and younger) Saturday January 17th, 4:30pm
Mini Shock (8 years and under) Saturday January 17th, 2:30pm
For ‘Future Shock’ (17 and under) Sunday January 18th, 12:30pm
Or just interested in taking a Master Class, they are held every Tuesday evening from 8:30 to 10pm. The cost is $15 dollars. For more information please call: 858 432 6231 | Fax: +1 619 299 2666 |email: [email protected]
