By Addison '28
Christmas classics are an essential part of the holiday season and have become tradition for many. These works evoke a sense of nostalgia and comfort, capturing the warmth of the Christmas season — and none more so than the Nutcracker ballet.
The Nutcracker is a timeless coming-of-age tale about a young girl named Clara who embarks on a fantastical journey. Accompanied by a nutcracker doll, a wooden figurine of a toy soldier that has been magically brought to life, Clara battles the Rat King, journeys through the Land of Sweets, and discovers the world of wonder beyond her home. Originally a story by German author E.T.A. Hoffman, it was later adapted into a ballet with music composed by Pyotr Tchaikovsky and choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. The ballet premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1892 and was introduced to American audiences in 1944. Nowadays, the show is a cornerstone of the holiday season, with ballet companies around the world relying on it to sustain their winter revenue.
For the first time, Notre Dame is performing their very own Nutcracker. The show took place on Saturday, Dec. 6, in Julie Billiart Hall. “Regent Nutcracker: Land of Sweets” is a fresh adaptation of the ballet classic, incorporating brand new characters, a diverse range of styles, and student choreography. Centered around Act II of the Nutcracker, the Regent Collective Dance Company (RCDC) has worked tirelessly to bring their creative vision to life. While the original Nutcracker begins at Clara’s Christmas party, Notre Dame’s version starts in the Land of Sweets. Various sweets perform for Clara and her Nutcracker prince, all culminating in the Sugar Plum Fairy’s breathtaking solo.
This show is a testament to student leadership and initiative — both the Junior Varsity and Varsity captains have worked diligently to bring out the best in their teams. “The JV team has done a great job creating a welcoming space where we work together effectively, whether it's learning choreography or teaching each other new skills,” Junior Varsity Captain Kayla ’29 said. She also noted, “We’ve developed a strong sisterhood as a team and are so excited to bring our dances to the stage.”
Varsity Captain Natalie ’27 adds, “Being the captain of the Varsity team here at RCDC is an eye-opening experience [and] taking up the responsibility to learn all of the team’s choreography is a challenging yet necessary skill for the team to thrive.” She emphasized that helping the team members balance both their academics and co-curricular activities was crucial to this performance’s success.
This production of the Nutcracker has truly been a labor of love for many dedicated students, whose talent and dedication brought this story to life. Thank you so much for your support, and be sure to come see these incredible dancers in the spring show: “Y2K Takeover”!
This article will appear in the printed edition of ND's student newspaper, the Crown & Shield, on Thursday, Dec. 18.
