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FROM PIROUETTES TO POP N’ LOCK, A NEW HOLIDAY FAVORITE GROWS IN BROOKLYN

Brooklyn Ballet’s “The Brooklyn Nutcracker” Waltzes into Irondale Center for 14 Performances This Holiday Season

NEW YORK, October 4, 2017 — Brooklyn Ballet, a unique and interdisciplinary dance company rooted in the classical idiom, presents the return of The Brooklyn Nutcracker, December 7-16, at the Irondale Center in downtown Brooklyn. Following a sold-out premiere season in 2016, The Brooklyn Nutcracker fuses ballet, hip-hop and an array of world dance genres to create a new tradition for today’s audience. A re-imagined holiday classic, this critically acclaimed work transforms familiar Nutcracker characters and scenes to represent the diverse traditions and vibrant multicultural history of Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Ballet’s unique collaboration with tech-based artists and designers provide audiences with a multi-sensory experience, exploring ground-breaking technology of light and motion-responsive costumes. Within moments, the digital set and backdrop transports the plot from historical old Dutch Brooklyn to the iconic Flatbush Avenue—in an homage to the county of Kings.

“The Brooklyn Nutcracker was born in 2010 on a Brooklyn street corner, a dance collaboration between a petite ballerina and a large hip-hop dancer. Passersby were mesmerized so I knew we were on to something,” explains artistic director Lynn Parkerson. “Last year’s sold-out season confirmed that Brooklynites loved seeing a holiday classic, personalized to the places they call home.”

For Nutcracker traditionalists, a Victorian-style holiday party for Clara and friends, Snow Scene, and Waltz of the Flowers remain true to Petipa’s and Ivanov’s vision. In the re-imagined scenes, choreographer and Brooklyn Ballet artistic director Lynn Parkerson, injects an unmistakable and symbolic Brooklyn culture. Clara’s mysterious uncle Drosselmeyer is portrayed by hip-hop pop and locker Michael “Big Mike” Fields, and each snowflake is donned in LED wired tutus that illuminate with the sweep of Tchaikovsky’s rich score. 6-time World Hoop Dance Champion and Native American actor Nakotah LaRance, also returns performing his sensational mix of traditional hoop and hip-hop dance to open the second act. With a cast of over 50 dancers, audiences will enjoy divertissements from an authentic Middle Eastern belly dancer, African-based modern dancers, Brooklyn’s top pop and lock, gliding and flex’n dancers, as well as Brooklyn Ballet School’s own students. Guest artists Da’Von Doane, Dylan Santos and Ingrid Silva from Dance Theater of Harlem close the ballet with the highly-anticipated Sugar Plum and Cavalier pas de deux.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Thursday, December 7 at 7:00 p.m.*
Friday, December 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 9 at 3:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Monday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, December 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, December 15 at 3:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 16 at 3:00p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

*An opening night Gala reception follows the performance, details to be announced.

Three additional student performances for public schools  held on December 11, 12 and 14 at 11:30 a.m.

TICKETS and VENUE INFORMATION
Tickets on sale October 10. Prices start at $25.
Tickets available for purchase at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/34418.
or (718)-246-0146.

Irondale is located at 85 South Oxford Street in Brooklyn, New York. The theater is accessible by Subway: C to Lafayette; B, D, M, N, Q, R, 2, 3, 4, or 5 to Atlantic Avenue/Pacific Street; and G to Fulton Street.

REPERTORY DETAILS
The Brooklyn Nutcracker
Concept/Choreography: Lynn Parkerson
Music: Pytor IIyich Tchaikovsky
Art Director/Set Design: Avram Finkelstein
Costume Design: Rebeccah Pailes-Friedman, Leila Ligougne, Sylvia Nolan, YMX by Yellowman
Technologist: Nicholas Vermeer, NYC Resistor
Lighting Design: David Forni
Collaborating Choreographers: Thomas Baird, Michael “Big Mike” Fields, Claudia Jeschke, Sira Melikian, Sydnie Mosley
Length: 90 minutes

A re-imagined holiday classic, The Brooklyn Nutcracker fuses ballet, hip-hop and a myriad of world dance genres to create a new tradition for today’s audience. The Brooklyn Nutcracker transforms familiar Nutcracker characters and scenes to represent the diverse traditions and vibrant culture of melting pot Brooklyn. Starting from the point of view of old Dutch Brooklyn and leading to the iconic Flatbush Avenue, the production is fresh and full of virtuosity—in essence, a moving Christmas card to the borough Brooklyn Ballet calls home.

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ABOUT BROOKLYN BALLET

Founded in 2002 by Artistic Director Lynn Parkerson, Brooklyn Ballet brings a contemporary vision to the treasured art form of ballet, with repertory and programs that revitalize and re-imagine the classical form. The first-of-its-kind in Brooklyn in more than 40 years, the organization is committed to artistic accomplishment, education and community engagement. In 2009, Brooklyn Ballet opened the doors to its first permanent home at The Schermerhorn—

built and managed by Common Ground and The Actors Fund. The ground level space provides Brooklyn Ballet with a storefront dance studio, access to a 99-seat black box theatre, dressing rooms, and administrative space. As a community dance institution, the Brooklyn Ballet School offers youth and adult ballet classes, allowing dancers to learn and develop their skills alongside professionals of all backgrounds. The school’s Elevate and Brooklyn Ballet in the Houses programs offers children scholarships and opportunities to participate in the rigors of ballet training.

Brooklyn Ballet’s programs are made possible in part by The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council, Council Member Alan Maisel, Council Member Stephen Levin, Council Member Robert E. Cornegy Jr., Council Member Laurie Cumbo, New York State Council on the Arts, Mertz Gilmore Foundation, Sills Family Foundation, Corcoran Cares, The Howard Gilman Foundation, The John N. Blackman Foundation, The Curtis W. McGraw Foundation, Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation, The Harkness Foundation for Dance, STV Group, Con Edison, Park Avenue Charitable Fund, Savanna, and Stop & Stor Charitable Fund.