In 2004 and 2005, Kristy Nilsson choreographed and staged
a new production of
for
The wonderful, holiday family tradition played
thirty-two sold out or near-sold out performances
Gwinnett Ballet Theatre’s
2004 & 2005 - 23rd & 24th Annual Production of
The Nutcracker
with all-new choreography by Kristy Nilsson,
Pas de Deux by Lisa Sheppard Robson
A Review that made MSNBC's "NewsBot" as well as
other online Newspapers including "Russia Daily"
“New Visions of Sugar Plums”
Enhanced Plot Brings New Life to The Nutcracker:
A Very Contemporary – Yet Traditional – Vision of the Holiday Classic
Gwinnett Ballet Theatre’s twenty-third annual production of The Nutcracker at the Gwinnett Performing Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia was met with record-breaking ticket sales for sixteen near-sold out performances – and shouts of "Brava", standing ovations and many interruptions of applause.
With all-new choreography by Ms. Kristy Nilsson and Pas de Deux by Ms. Lisa Sheppard Robson - Artistic Director of Gwinnett Ballet Theatre, this new version extends the plot, carrying the audience away to an imaginary world of delight and adventure. The splendid holiday celebration in Act One highlights renowned professional magician Bill Kress as the mysterious Herr Drosselmeyer, who astounds both children and adults with miraculous presentations of exotic birds and ballerinas, seemingly from thin air - magic rarely seen by Nutcracker audiences. In Clara's Dream, her mischievous little brother, Fritz, brings a legion of rats to terrorize his older sister. Following the nightmarish invasion of the rats and their battle against Red Coat toy soldiers, cannon and cavalry led by the Nutcracker Prince, the rats kidnap Fritz. Ms. Nilsson's enhanced plot carries the story through Act II, with Clara, the Nutcracker and the Sugar Plum Fairy giving chase into the Nutcracker's Magical Kingdom... where they enlist help from Spain, China, Arabia, Russia and Switzerland to help save Fritz from the evil Rat King.
Featuring Gwinnett Ballet Theatre's outstanding young pre-professional dancers, exceptional sets and lush Victorian costumes, this production of The Nutcracker far exceeds expectations of a company this size. The excellent training of these dancers is evident throughout this production of Nutcracker: in addition to year-round study with GBT faculty, most of these students are invited to intensive summer training with such companies as American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet and Atlanta Ballet; many are later accepted into professional dance companies as well as the finest university ballet programs.
While all the dancers in this production show professionalism and promise, several deserve special mention. Ms. Whitney Sue Jones technically excels as the Sugar Plum Fairy with poise and grace far beyond her years, beautifully partnered by Mr. Angelo Giglio of Joffrey Ensemble Ballet, New York City. Ms. Jody Blevins and Ms. Sara Chamberlin are both lyrical and radiant in their alternating roles as Dream Clara and in the sensual Arabian variation - performed with local guest-artist B.J. Toups, recently off-tour from the Broadway show "Swing". The joy and enthusiasm of this talented ballet company are apparent in all aspects of this production, from the children’s dances and corps work in the lovely new “Snow” scene of Act One, through the exciting new divertissement and elegant “Waltz of the Flowers” in Act Two.
Ms. Nilsson’s new choreography respects a traditional old-world European, setting – but the improved storyline brings clarity, continuity and a true sense of fairytale magic to this very-familiar holiday classic. Her choreography is often contemporary but never 'modern', successfully and unobtrusively bringing out both the drama in the story and the strengths of these young dancers. One never feels that one is watching a student company, instead the audience is swept away in this new vision of The Nutcracker.
On the Co-Choreographer, the Company and the Dancers
Over the past ten years, Ms. Nilsson’s works have been performed in six states; she has
choreographed for The Georgia Ballet, Gwinnett Ballet Theatre, Georgia Youth Ballet,
the Atlanta Dance Company, Praise in Motion and Atlanta Ballet's Centre Theatre.
In 2006, her new work Jagannat was performed by the professional company,
The Georgia Ballet; and, her commissioned work Amasea, was selected for
performance at the 2006 SERBA Festival by Georgia Youth Ballet. The
beautiful dancers of Gwinnett Ballet Theatre danced her new choreography
for Paulli's Konservatoriet, Paulli & Helsted's Tarantella from Napoli;
and, the dancers of Praise in Motion performed her new spiritual work FixYou.
In 2005, Gwinnett Ballet Theatre performed Ms. Nilsson's new Take Five and
Aftermath on tour in Tennessee as well as in Spring Concert with her new
Moonlight Sonata. Additionally, GBT performed Ms. Nilsson's new works
CounterPhobia, Beautiful World and Beethoven's Sonata in D.
In 2004, Ms. Nilsson was honored to choreograph and set a new full-length Nutcracker for
Gwinnett Ballet Theatre. The production was a tremendous success and was reprised in 2005
with additional choreography by Lisa Sheppard Robson. Her new work Sublimation was
performed by the Georgia Youth Ballet at the 2004 SERBA Festival, St. Pius Dance Ensemble
performed her work, and new works Sententia and Summertime were both performed in concert
by Gwinnett Ballet Theatre with the Joffrey Ballet Ensemble.
In 2003, Ms. Nilsson’s La Deseada was selected from over one hundred pieces
adjudicated as the only runner-up for SERBA's highest choreographic award
and was performed for Gala-credit at the annual dance festival.
Ms. Nilsson regularly coaches, judges auditions and teaches Master Classes and
Choreographic Workshops for metropolitan-Atlanta dance companies,
performing arts schools, religious dance organizations and community arts festivals.
Kristy was delighted to work with the wonderful group of dancers, parents,
staff and Board members at Gwinnett Ballet Theatre for these productions of
The Nutcracker.
* * * * *
What People are Saying About Choreographer Kristy Nilsson
“Kristy is a very talented young choreographer.”
~ Mr. John McFall, Artistic Director ~ Atlanta Ballet
Mr. McFall often pointed Ms. Nilsson out to colleagues
as "one to watch” in the choreographic world.
“Kristy definitely has an affinity for choreography and contemporary movement;
(she) has her own sense of any music and is not afraid to let it show . . .”
~ Ms. Julianne Kepley, Principal Dancer ~ Joffrey Ballet
“Kristy (Nilsson) has a keen sense of movement both for
classical and neo~classical works… a very talented choreographer.”
~ Ms. Sharon Story, Ballet Mistress ~ Atlanta Ballet
". . . an incredible talent to choreograph."
\
~ Ms. Diane Sales, former Donald Byrd Company Member
"Kristy Nilsson is… an excellent choreographer…
Her choreography is innovative with excellent use of the music, patterns and space.
She integrates the emotional and artistic aspects of the dance.
I believe Ms. Nilsson will go far as a choreographer."
~ Ms. Magdalena Maury, Artistic Director ~ Georgia Youth Ballet
“Kristy Nilsson is an innovative and very talented choreographer.
Her Esperanza was clearly one of the best pieces ever performed on our stage.
When viewing her choreography, the audience witnesses a dramatic and uplifting
interpretation of the music through the dancers.”
~ Ms. Lisa Martin, Director of Dance ~ St. Pius X, Atlanta, Georgia
“I really liked that piece you choreographed!”
~ Ms. Violette Verdy, former Prima Ballerina, New York City Ballet
Dance Critics, Directors & Ballet Masters have called Ms. Nilsson’s choreography:
“Innovative” “Intriguing” “Dramatic & Uplifting” “Clever”
“Inventive” “Effective” “Interesting” “Emotional & Artistic”
Kristy enjoys teaching ballet and pointe, modern dance and jazz to students ranging
from pre-professionals to “Baby Ballerinas”; she also coaches and teaches Master Classes
in Modern Dance, and workshops in introductory-to-advanced choreography, theatrical
dance and stage makeup. Ms. Nilsson has coached both dancers and gymnasts
to top state and national performance awards.
* * * * *
About Gwinnett Ballet Theatre
Gwinnett Ballet Theatre is a superb nonprofit pre-professional school
and student company in metropolitan Atlanta that, under the direction of
Lisa Sheppard-Robson, has produced many fine professional dancers
including the winner of the Princess Grace Award for 2005 – Alessandra Ball.
GBT is an Honor Company of the Southeast Regional Ballet Association.
The Gwinnett Daily Post has described Gwinnett Ballet Theatre as
“…young people who have dedicated immense time, talent
and energy to creating something elegant and beautiful.”
Newspaper reviews have remarked on
“the consistently high standards maintained throughout the company,”
calling a performance of Gwinnett Ballet Theatre
“an inspirational way to spend a couple of hours.”
~ Barbara Mason, Gwinnett Daily Post
Gwinnett Ballet Theatre has had students go on to become professional dancers
in the Houston Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Arizona Ballet,
Charleston Ballet Theatre and other national and international professional companies.
Gwinnett Ballet Theatre has fostered dancers that have been accepted to professional company
schools at American Ballet Theatre, School of the American Ballet
(school of the New York City Ballet), Houston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet,
Miami City Ballet, Boston Ballet, Ballet West and others.
* * * * *
Please take me to:
Restaging Kristy Nilsson's "The Nutcracker"
See The Nutcracker Photo Galleries
Return to Commissioning a Restaging
Thank you to
for "The Nutcracker" graphic.