Dorrance Turns ‘Cracker’ into a Downtown Dance Rave 

Does Santa Barbara really need another performance of The Nutcracker? What with the long-running productions from Festival Ballet (December 14-15 at the Arlington) and State Street Ballet (December 21-22 at the Granada) – both of which feature large casts, special guest stars and a live orchestra – plus myriad one-offs from several smaller dance schools for kids as young as pre-K, is there really a reason for more Sugar Plum Fairies, Claras, kitchen devices and creatures come to life scurrying to Tchaikovsky’s classic score? 

In a word, when it comes to Dorrance Dance – Absolutely! 

Tap superstar choreographer/dancer Michelle Dorrance, a frequent visitor to Santa Barbara courtesy of UCSB Arts & Lecture, performed here last year with ballet superstar Tiler Peck and a troupe of the best dancers in America in a wildly divergent evening of mixed styles that elicited the most raucous response from a dance audience I’ve ever seen. Now, the superstar tap choreographer/dancer is bringing her 2019 take on The Nutcracker to town, a vibrant version of this beloved holiday classic unlike anything we’ve ever seen. The show uses Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s extraordinary reinterpretation of The Nutcracker Suite as the soundtrack for a tap-filled spectacular boasting boogies, slides, struts, swing moves and dives to turn the fantastical Christmas adventure into a joyful, decidedly American, urban, inclusive and joyful romp. 

Along the way, Dorrance and co-choreographers Hannah Heller and Josette Wiggan shift the Sugar Plum Fairy into a slinky Sugar Rum Cherry, the “March of the Toy Soldiers” becomes a swinging “Peanut Brittle Brigade,” “Waltz of the Flowers,” evolves into “Danse of the Floreadores,” and Tchaikovsky’s “Dance of the Reed Flutes” transforms into “Toot Toot Tootie Toot.” Sans much miming and extended scenes, the whole thing wraps up in a highly energetic 65 minutes. 

Dorrance’s Nutcracker at the Arlington on December 5 will be preceded by a free holiday party on the plaza at 5 pm coinciding with 1st Thursday. Events include performances from Santa Barbara Revels and the UCSB Jazz Ensemble, plus light installations and free apple cider. Details at https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.