The New Year holidays have not yet arrived, but the joyful mood that fills schoolchildren during the holidays and adults on the days of the long-awaited New Year has already settled in the hearts of the Astana Ballet audience. The Nutcracker ballet is unthinkable without the magical atmosphere of dreams and hope for the fulfilment of wishes. On the stage of the Theatre, this famous ballet is performed in an expressive and very touching version by Vasily Vainonen. This production was first performed on the stage of the Mariinsky Theatre and became one of the most popular ballets in the world. It is impossible to imagine a New Year’s holiday without this performance. Going to a performance at the theatre is a wonderful tradition that many people enjoy.
The production choreographer of the ballet in Astana, People’s Artist of the Russian Federation, rector of the Kazakh National Academy of Choreography Altynai Asylmuratova, brought the unique and elegant choreography by Vainonen to the capital’s stage, adding new colours and maintaining the atmosphere of the famous version. One of the distinctive features of the Nutcracker in Astana Ballet is that a lot of children from the Academy of Choreography are involved. For young dancers, this is simultaneously a great holiday, and work, and comprehension of the profession, and the first stage experience. In the production, students from the Academy will be involved in the scenes from the first act, including the dances of snowflakes and dolls. Young dancers are held to the same standards as adults: perfect technique, artistic flair, emotional depth.
The Nutcracker production has been showing at the Astana Ballet Theatre for seven years now. There are about 10-15 performances every year. This year, the scenery and costumes of the dancers, props were renovated. And it shone with pristine, sparkling novelty once more.
The performers have a special attitude to “The Nutcracker”. They, too, like the audience, feel the magical atmosphere of the holiday. They strive to give viewers who enthusiastically accept “The Nutcracker” unique emotions; confidence that good always wins, love will overcome all trials, destroy evil spells; and friends will help in difficult times.