A scene from opening night of Nutcracker on ‘The Hill’ Friday evening at Duane Smith Auditorium. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
BY MICHELANGELO LOBATO
Winterfest weekend in Los Alamos means so many things to so many of us in this quaint, amazing little town. From the trees at Ashley Pond brightly decorated, to drinking hot chocolate while watching the light parade. One thing that you can always expect during this magical weekend is the annual Nutcracker performance put on by Dance Arts Los Alamos (DALA). The Nutcracker is a classic ballet that has become a holiday tradition for many people around the world. It’s known for its enchanting story, beautiful choreography, and Tchaikovsky’s iconic score.
But this is not a traditional performance of the Nutcracker. It’s the first in a trilogy written and directed by Jonathan Guise with choreography by Guise, Allison Beaux, Lakotia Duncan, Natalie Smith, Luke Reid-Grassia, Audrey Roman, Karina Wilder, and Rachel Zervakos. Nutcracker on “The Hill” features Robert Oppenheimer, played by Matt DeSmith, General Groves, played by Clark Davis, and the General’s daughter, Gwen Groves, played by Jana Gauss. It also features many historical Manhattan Project figures such as George Weil, Norris Bradbury, and Carmen Gallegos, played by her real-life goddaughter, Venita Chavez.
The story begins at Fuller Lodge during a Christmas Party hosted by Oppenheimer and Groves in 1944. With the party in “full swing”, The Spy, played by Luisa Schmitz, attempts to steal top secret plans from Oppenheimer, and this sets things into motion for the rest of the night. The snow scene, with its graceful movements and often intricate formations, is a visually stunning part of the ballet, symbolizing the magic and beauty of the winter season.
The second act of the performance focuses on the traditional choreographic approach of The Nutcracker. Guise states in the Nutcracker on the Hill program, that he styled the performance to preserve the art of traditional dance, and show respect, while celebrating the beauty of cultures throughout the world. He uses Spanish dance using sharp, deliberate steps with fluid transition, Russian dance using powerful, masculine energy, characterized by awe-inspiring jumps, and Chinese dance which is renowned for its refined and elegant arm movements and precision of its point work. I’m not going to say how it ends, but I will tell you it does end on a cliffhanger, setting up Ratcracker on “The Hill”, coming to Duane Smith in 2024!
Being a dance dad (this is the ninth year my daughter, Eliana, has performed in the Nutcracker), I can attest to the hard work that every dancer puts into every movement, giving every bit of energy to entertain, while sometimes smiling through pain. The hours of hard work, the injuries, and their dedication lead to the sweet success of their amazing accomplishments. I applaud each and every one of these remarkable youth.
While the performance of every dancer is the true highlight, I especially enjoy seeing generations of Los Alamos and Northern New Mexico families participating in Nutcracker on “The Hill”. From the parents backstage doing makeup, to volunteers making sure the dancers are ready for their cues, to the family members doing the staging and set building, it’s truly a family run operation and tradition.
There are two more performances of Nutcracker on the Hill at Duane Smith Auditorium. Saturday, December 2, at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 3, at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for youth and seniors.