Clara’s Dream is the only Ukrainian folk ballet representation of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, according to Edmonton’s Shumka Dancers. And yet, Tchaikovsky had Ukrainian heritage. This Canadian-Ukrainian artistic collaboration incorporates Ukrainian Christmas traditions, folk and character dance, a grand orchestral version of Shchedryk (Carol of the Bells) and Ukrainian symbols woven into lavish sets and costumes.
This production features Edmonton companies the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers and Citie Ballet, together with Ukraine’s Virsky and Kyiv Ballet and the Edmonton-based Viter Ukrainian Folk Choir.
In celebration of the Christmas season, Clara’s Dream runs at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium December 29-30.
As a part of our series, Dance Criticism: Perceptions, challenges and the future, Grace Wells-Smith speaks to four Canadian dance critics about how dance criticism fits into the current fold.
A Ukrainian Nutcracker with Edmonton’s Ukrainian Shumka Dancers, Virsky Ukrainian State Folk Dance Company and The Kyiv Ballet
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