'The Nutcracker' reclaiming its position as premier performance

Photo by Joshua Maloni

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Greater Niagara Ballet Company ballet on stage Dec. 13-14

Preview by Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

Ironically, for all of the positive changes the Greater Niagara Ballet Company has implemented into its annual production of “The Nutcracker” in recent years, the public response now mirrors what it was almost 50 years ago when Beverley Feder first produced the timeless tale.

That is to say, “The Nutcracker” is not just a holiday treat for GNBC members’ family and friends, but a first-rate ballet the community has rediscovered.

“We have heard a lot of positive remarks and comments,” show manager and company Artistic Director Mary Schnepf said.

While the GNBC appreciates the new choreography, costumes and backdrops, “I've had people come up to me outside of the theater, outside of the school, outside of the studio, who have seen it and had very good things to say,” Schnepf said.

“We're also starting to sell a lot more tickets to the general public. We always have family and friends – and we love performing for our family and friends – but we are seeing an increase of people attending the show who do not have any connection to the company at all. They didn't dance with us. They don't know anybody in the show. But they're coming out to see us, which is very exciting. It's a positive direction we're moving in.”

She added, “It's fantastic compliment. It's very rewarding to know that people want to come see this show without having that connection.

“It's good to know that we're increasing our reach. It's good to know that we're having that great word of mouth, and just getting the company name out there.”

Images of “The Nutcracker,” as presented by the Greater Niagara Ballet Company. (Photos courtesy of Mary Schnepf)

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GNBC Vice President Diana Guerrucci said, “Our numbers certainly have been increasing the last four years. We have been making a very concerted effort to make all dancers in our area aware of all of our performances, with great support from the local dance studios. Our choreography has been going through changes each year, with our directors wanting each ‘Nutcracker’ year to be a little different. Our digital backdrops were first introduced to our show last year and were a big hit, especially during our on-school time performance of about 1,500 students.

“Our attendance to the shows has increased for many reasons, one of which is being very visible in the community. This weekend alone, we are making appearances in Elmwood Village, Grand Island Library, Fireman's Fund Telethon, local TV, and two events in Lewiston. We feel we are getting people in the holiday spirit by putting out an entertaining ‘Nutcracker’ show for the holiday season.”

To get “The Nutcracker” to this positive point of production is no easy task – especially because the majority of the several-dozen-strong cast is elementary school-aged.

“We have to stay very organized,” Schnepf said. “We set a rehearsal schedule, we let the parents know – and the dancers know – when they have to be where at what time. And we have been very lucky that we have several rehearsal assistants. My assistant director, Mary Pappagallo, has been training some of the younger dancers to assist with the party scene, with battle scene, with angels, with bon-bons, and that has been very successful. The dancers have been wonderful about helping out. They really help us both out quite a bit.

“I have a rehearsal assistant, too, Gianna Guerrucci, who has been just wonderful to work with. She really helps me out. For the older dancers, if you’re on the stage right, and I have to show something, she can show it on stage left. It's just been really helpful.

“It's a lot of organization; a lot of volunteers helping out, too.”

Schnepf has worked with the GNBC for more than two decades as a principal dancer and soloist. When the GNBC board brought her on as director in 2021, it noted, “Mary has probably danced every role in ‘The Nutcracker,’ so she knows exactly what she wants to see on the stage from each dancer and from the cast as a whole.”

While one might think regularly reprising the ballet could get monotonous, Schnepf explained, “We have new children every year in the show – and especially the little ones, they are so excited to be a part of it. And the dancers who return year after year are excited to experience new roles. They bring the energy every year.

“So, it does change every year, just based on our cast. And we always miss the people who leave – and a lot of students, they graduate high school, they go on to college; but they often come back in the audience, too, and then they're excited to see all the little changes that we make.”

Plus, Schnepf embraces the challenge of cohesively tying all the pieces together: staying true to the story, which, with more than one version of “The Nutcracker” staged locally each winter, is extremely popular in Western New York; honoring the legacy Feder built over five-plus decades; and recognizing her own artistry by looking for ways to fold in new pieces of choreography.

“It is a balancing act,” Schnepf said. “I know that people want – and I do, too – they want the tradition. They like the holiday tradition. They want to see the classic choreography. Some people like seeing the same thing year after year.

“But we also want to keep it fresh and new. We don't want it to get stale. …

“What I've been trying to do is slowly update things here and there. Some of that is just to modernize the production for today's audiences. ‘The Nutcracker’ has been around for a very long time, and cultural shifts have happened; so, we try to keep up with that, as well, trying to just keep it accessible to everybody.

“Balancing the art, with tradition, with the legacy, is a lot, but I brought back a lot of the choreography that I had done when I was studying with Mrs. Feder. But then we also made some updates that are almost completely different.

“By combining everything, I think it transitions well. We don't have anything so jarring – nothing comes out as being ultra-modern, as opposed to right next to a piece where everyone's wearing Victorian dresses, for instance.

“We want it to flow. We want to add things here and keep it fresh – while keeping all the tradition so people have something to recognize.”

See for yourself: The Greater Niagara Ballet Company’s presentation of “The Nutcracker” is on stage Dec. 13-14 at the Niagara Falls High School Performing Arts Center, 4455 Porter Road. Friday’s performance begins at 7:30 p.m. There is a 2 p.m. matinee and a 7:30 p.m. show on Saturday. Ticket information is online at http://www.greaterniagaraballetcompany.org/the-nutcracker.

Photos by Joshua Maloni