Dallas Black Dance Academy (DBD Academy) presents its fourth annual Espresso Nutcracker, with a new twist on a holiday tradition. The performance is jazz-influenced by the music of Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite. The single performance is scheduled for Saturday, December 11, 2021, at 7 pm CT in the Majestic Theatre, located at 1925 Elm Street, Dallas, TX. The performance is also available via live streaming and on-demand.
DBD Academy Director Katricia Eaglin — assisted by the Pre-Professional Division academy ballet instructors, whose students will perform in the production — choreographed Espresso Nutcracker. Eaglin was inspired to use the traditional Tchaikovsky music along with tracks from Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite, selecting Ellington tracks that were still recognizable to the original work. She added narration to the performance to unlock the mystery and magic of the storyline. Eaglin also added an African dance to the Land of Sweets Act that includes Spanish, Arabian, Chinese, and Russian dances in the original.
The original Nutcracker Ballet, choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, is one of the most famous ballets in the world. It tells the story of young Clara’s magical journey on Christmas Eve. Many dance academies bring in professionals to dance key Nutcracker roles, but Dallas Black Dance Academy students will dance all the key parts, such as the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Snow Queen. DBDT professional dancers will dance the adult characters of the Mother, Father, and Drosselmeyer.
photos by Xavier Mack and Amitava Sarkar
ESPRESSO NUTCRACKER
Dallas Black Dance Theatre
Saturday, December 11, 2021, 7:00 pm
Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm Street in Dallas
for tickets ($55) and more details, visit DBDT
Live streaming tickets are $55 per household. You can watch the live stream broadcast in real-time beginning at 7:00 pm CDT on Saturday, December 11, 2021.
The on-demand option is also $55 and will be available starting at 9:00 pm CDT Saturday through Monday, December 13, 11:59 pm CST.
