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Show Wed/Thurs/Fri, December 19-21, 2018 The Park Record C-5 PUZZLE ANSWERS FROM PAGE C-4 TANZI PROPST/PARK RECORD Young harlequins share some original choreography during the annual “Park City Nutcracker.” Continued from C-1 Ballet continues tradition ing the first full-length performance of “The Nutcracker” balletin the United States in 1944, Snarr said. “The party boys and girls, snow scene, the toy bear and wind-up doll, Waltz of the Flowers, and the Sugar Plum Fairy’s adagio, coda and variation will all be Mr. C’s work,” she said. “The other divertissements are in the style of Mr. C, but choreographed by myself and Michelle Player and Tonia Blomquist, who are on our faculty.” Those scenes include a troupe of dolls, puppets, a puppet master and his harlequin sidekicks, according to Snarr. “I was told to make the performance a little longer this year, so we added the puppet master, which we had taken out in the past,” she said. “It’s rare when people tell me the ballet is too short.” Snarr enjoyed combining Christensen’s and the academy staff’s choreography for the Park City concerts. “There’s the creativity and figuring out how to put all the puzzle pieces together, so everyone has a moment to be highlighted,” she said. “Also, to have access to the oldest ‘Nutcracker’ in the United States is such a honor.” To have access to the oldest ‘Nutcracker’ in the United States is such a honor...” Cati Snarr, Peggy Bergmann Ballet West Academy principal Christensen brought “The Nutcracker” to Salt Lake City from San Francisco in 1955 and set it on a new company — Utah Civic Ballet – which eventually became Ballet West. “People from all over the world visit Park City during the winter, and have the opportunity to see this huge piece of institutional dance history that goes back almost 80 years,” Snarr said. “So to share that and create the warm community feeling is why I love ‘Nutcracker.’” Saturday’s performances, which are a suites, showcase 115 dancers and run about 72 minutes with no intermission. “There are no parents on stage, but most kids pretend they don’t have parents when they play, anyway,” Snarr said with a laugh. Snarr’s favorite piece in the Park City performance is the snow scene pas de deux, featuring Maren Florence and Jacob Hancock. “I love that I was allowed to bring it to Park City, because I think it’s the most beautiful choreography Mr. C has ever done,” she said. Florence and Hancock come from Ballet West Academy’s downtown campus in Salt Lake City. “The fact that they are from Salt Lake City bridges the gap between the campuses,” Snarr said. “I got the chance to be a part of their rehearsal process, and they are so prepared and so beautiful.” Snarr, who served as Ballet West’s children’s ballet mistress for 13 years, said working with young dancers is the ultimate reward when presenting “The Nutcracker.” “Every single child comes to rehearsal, and every single child can’t wait to show up for the next rehearsal,” she said. “They not only love the performances, they also love the process that gets them onto the stage. If you mentor them right, that passion stays with them. And I love that we can continue this in Park City.” BE A LOCAL HERO Volunteer for a local non-profit TANZI PROPST/PARK RECORD A troupe of Raggedy Ann and Andys flop around the stage during the Peggy Bergmann Ballet West Academy’s “Park City Nutcracker.” CHRISTMAS WITH THE CELTS Kurt Bestor Ring in the holidays with this beloved Egyptian Theatre Christmas tradition! DEC 19–20 DEC 21–25 ParkCityShows.com |