Harlem Nutcracker to grace 'U'

Famous ballet to feature local choirs, exhibits, caroling this weekend

What is Christmas without "The Nutcracker?" Perhaps the most famous ballet in the history of the dance, many people would include this piece in their definition of the holiday. At the same time, however, there are people who are sick and tired of "The Nutcracker," and furthermore, the holiday season does not begin and end with Christmas. Of late, Kwaanza, an African-American celebration that begins the day after Christmas, has burgeoned in popularity around the country. Given all this, the University Musical Society has chosen to define its holiday season by presenting a show that combines the timeless ballet with a modern twist - "The Harlem Nutcracker."

PREVIEW
	Harlem Nutcracker Tonight-Fri. night at 8 Sat. and Sun. 2 p.m.-8 p.m. Power Center call 764-2538

"The Harlem Nutcracker" begins with a contemporary family celebration of Christmas. Clara and the Nutcracker Prince, an African-American grandmother and grandfather (as opposed to small children in the original ballet), reflect on the state of their family as they gather in their Harlem brownstone on Christmas Eve.

Interactions with family and friends depict the realities of African-American life in the cities today, and Gospel interludes reinforce the importance of church and religion in African-American communities.

The Harlem Nutcracker will be performed this weekend at the Power Center.

The performance continues in the second act, where Clara reminisces about her childhood, what it was like growing up in the 1920s and '30s, before desegregation had come about. Set in a dance hall evoking the 1920s Cotton Club, the second half captures the glamour and spirit of pre-war Harlem and the richness of its black community at that time in history.

This section of the performance features Duke Ellington's arrangement of the famous Tchaikovksy score and dances, adding a little tradition to a fairly non-traditional performance.

"The Harlem Nutcracker" is choreographed by Detroit native Donald Byrd, who presents a diverse and challenging dance palette, exploring all sorts of dance, from classical ballet to the most contemporary forms of modern dance. Since 1976, Byrd has composed more than 80 works, many of which involved collaborations with artists in other fields, including Twyla Tharp, Peter Sellars and Robert Wilson, as well as a number of famous dance troupes and companies, including his own, The Group.

To give "The Harlem Nutcracker" a more local flavor, the Ann Arbor productions of this work will feature 10 children from the Detroit Public Schools Dance Program in each performance; a gospel choir composed of members of 11 area churches conducted by James Abington, former music director at Hartford Baptist Church; and a local jazz band led by another Detroit native, Marcus Blegrave.

In addition, six different youth gospel choirs from Ann Arbor, Detroit and Ypsilanti will perform traditional African-American Christmas carols in the lobby prior to each performance.

In addition to the seven performances, there are a number of free residency activities that will be taking place in Ann Arbor, which are directly related to this spectacular show.

An exhibition titled "Family, Friends and a Sense of Community: African Americans in the 1920s and 1930s," will be on display at the Power Center during all of the performances of the production. This exhibition is curated by the African American Cultural and Historical Museum of Ann Arbor and is free and open to the public.

So if you're looking for a traditional Christmas show, "The Harlem Nutcracker" might not be for you. In past years, tickets for the show have sold out quickly, so early ticket procurement is advised.

12-10-97