Wonderbound Dance Co
Holiday season is synonymous with The Nutcracker in the dance community. While the Front Range boasts dozens of productions, Wonderbound and Colorado Ballet are best bets in the Denver area.
Colorado Ballet features 25 performances, making it possible for those with a hectic schedule to attend a show mid-week. In their 53rd year of production,the company features 125 performers including: 30 company dancers, 19 studio company dancers, 64 students from the Colorado Ballet Academy, and community members and guest artists. This year, both the mice and snow costumes are new, which are just a few of the 250 -plus costumes featured.
The experience of Christmas magic at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House truly is unparalleled. There are 50 pounds of dry ice used in each performance to create the illusion of fog, and approximately 100 pounds of faux-snow will fall each run as well. The sets and costumes are out of this world, and the live orchestra, with over 40 musicians, sets the tone for the ultimate classical Christmas ballet.
Running time is two hours, with tickets ranging from $25-$155.
Wonderbound will close the year 2013 with its final performance of Nutcracker – looking ahead, the company tentatively plans on a Winter production, minus the tiaras and tutus. Wonderbound builds their production around the students of the Colorado Conservatory of Dance, utilizing nearly 50 students from the school to make the only classical ballet they perform all season come to life.
Children in the audience will be invited to come on stage after the conclusion of the ballet to learn a bit of choreography. Audience members are also offered an up close and personal encounter with the Sugar Plum Fairy, Cavalier, and Clara – including a Q&A and autograph signing.
Tickets range from $22-$47, with the ballet running the weekend of Dec. 14/15 and 21/22.
No matter what performance you choose to attend, the dancers will turn up the holiday spirit for the occasion, so please do the same and attend in appropriate attire – no jeans in the Land of Sweets!