DANCE | BOSTON AND BEYOND/ART & ENTERTAINMENT

HURRAH! NUMEROUS DANCE COMPANIES ARE OFFERING PROGRAMS. ALSO, CONTACT THE COMPANIES LISTED BELOW FOR THEIR FUTURE PROGRAMS.

THROUGH DEC. 29: THE NUTCRACKER

Boston Ballet brings the return of this beloved classic for the holiday season at the Boston Opera House, at 539 Washington St. in Boston. Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker has been critically-acclaimed as it features dynamic choreography that showcases the talent of the world-class Company, stunning sets and costumes by award-winning designer Robert Perdziola, and the renowned score by Tchaikovsky performed live by the Boston Ballet Orchestra. The production features the full Company as well as Boston Ballet II dancers, and Boston Ballet School students. The 44-performance run provides numerous dancers to debut in the various roles, showcasing the vast talent within the Company while also providing many opportunities for dancers to shine. This version of the classic tale, created for Boston Ballet in 2012, is one of the largest production builds the Company has ever done. They engaged craftspeople from all across the United States.

Photo Credit by Brooke Trisolini The acclaimed, award-winning scenic and costume designer Robert Perdziola illustrated more than 40 sketches that were transformed into the production’s larger-than-life sets that range from calm, subtle colors in the Act I party scene to vibrant colors in Act II’s Kingdom of the Sweets. The production also incorporated more than 350 beautifully intricate costumes, designed by Perdziola. Lighting design is by renowned Finnish designer Mikki Kunttu. The Boston Ballet Orchestra, the second largest musical organization in New England, led by Boston Ballet Music Director Mischa Santora, performs Tchaikovsky’s renowned score. The Nutcracker is based on the libretto by Alexandre Dumas père titled “The Tale of the Nutcracker” which is adapted from E. T. A. Hoffmann’s story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King”.

Photo Credit by Brooke Trisolini The story follows the wondrous journey of young Clara, who receives a nutcracker as a gift at her family’s Christmas Eve party. Later that night, her nutcracker is magically revealed as a handsome prince, who initially battles the Mouse King and then leads her through an enchanted forest and on to the Kingdom of the Sweets. “At Boston Ballet, The Nutcracker is so much more than a holiday show,” said Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen. “This spectacular program includes some of the most technically challenging choreography in classical ballet that showcases the incredible talent of our world-class Company and Boston Ballet School students. (A Sensory Friendly Performance of The Nutcracker: Friday will be held on December 6 at 1:30, that is abbreviated to a 64-minute run time plus a 30-minute intermission. It will offer in-theater activities and accommodations to make the experience even more welcoming.) Tickets for this annual, memorable, family holiday experience filled with a magical Growing Christmas tree, snowing on stage, a dancing bear, a Nutcrackers turning into a Prince, and so much more can be obtained at www.bostonballet.org

JAN. 16 & 17: DANCING WITH THE STARS TOUR

The Boch Center Wang Theatre brings the return of the latest tour of Dancing with the S show! This year’s all-new show will heat up your winter by featuring your favorite dancers from the #1 hit television show. They’ll be performing spectacular brand-new numbers dreamed up by Emmy award-winning choreographer Mandy Moore (Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, La La Land) as well as some of the viral showstoppers featured in season 33 that launched a million TikTok posts. Come relive DWTS’ record-breaking 33rd season that brought in over 20 million fan votes per episode!. 2024 US Olympic bronze medalist in men’s gymnastics, Stephen Nedoroscik, who earned the nickname ‘Pommel Horse Guy’, joins the tour as co-host. More DWTS Season 33 fan favorites and finalists include Olympic rugby champion and social media superstar Ilona Maher and Disney’s Z-O-M-B-I-E-S and Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin actress Chandler Kinney. The Bachelor star Joey Graziadei will be joining DWTS pro Jenna Johnson to perform in select cities. A limited number of VIP packages are still available for most shows and include Premium Tickets, Meet & Greet Photo Opportunity and interactive experience with DWTS Cast Members and Special Guests, Exclusive Merchandise and more. Due to demand, additional performances have been added in Boston, MA; Rosemont, IL; Madison, WI; Charlotte, NC; Clearwater, FL and Salt Lake City, UT. Tickets for all shows are on sale now at dwtstour.com.

JAN. 17 & 18: MALPASO DANCE

Celebrity Series of Boston brings to the stage of the Emerson Paramount Center, 559 Washington Street in Boston the return of Cuba’s most in-demand contemporary dancers. They will present a vibrant program showcasing the company’s commitment to working with international choreographers such as Ronald K. Brown, Aszure Barton, and Ephrat Asherie among others while nurturing Cuban artistry. The program will feature Brown’s “Why You Follow,” created for the company in Cuba in 2013, Asherie’s “Floor… y Ando,” a recent collaboration; and Osnel Delgado’s “A Dancing Island.” To obtain tickets for this stunning performance visit www.celebrityseries.org

THROUGH JAN. 4: DIARY OF A TAP DANCER

The American Repertory Theatre has proudly commissioned this World Premiere at their Loeb Drama Center theatre at 64 Brattle Street in Cambridge and again brings this award-wining Chasing Magic, trailblazing tap dancer and choreographer as well as Drama Desk nominee for Choreography for Broadway’s Funny Girl, Ayodele Casel . She returns to the A.R.T. with this all new production that dance, narrative, and song to share the story of her own life and career from her roots in The Bronx and Puerto Rico to her current stage triumphs. She also is bringing unrequited honor due the extraordinary women tap dancers who came before her as she shares their histories and legacies. The production is directed by Casel’s frequent collaborator and long time friend, Torya Beard, who states, “Ayodele Casel has spent her tap-dancing career not just chasing magic but creating it and sharing it.” This world-premiere production comes with support by Leslie and Howard Appleby. This holiday season is a perfect time to spread joy through the liberating spirit of tap while all the more so through the exceptional choreography and performnce brought to the stage by Ayodele Casel as she unleaches the power of reclaiming language, culture, and one’s own identity. She is joined by her cast that boast major theatrical credit. These includs Naomi Funaki, Afra Hines, Quynn L. Johnson, Funmi Sofola, Liberty Styles, Annaliese Wilbur, and Ki’Leigh Williams. “I was called to write Diary of a Tap Dancer to amplify our voices, family stories, and artistic lineages and to reflect the multitude of languages that we use to uplift and honor our cultural histories,” says Casel. The producton staff includes, Erin McCoy is the production stage manager. Eloia Peterson is the assistant stage manager. Casting is by Jason Thinger, CSA. Casel (Writer and Choreographer) and Beard (Director) are joined on the creative team by Tony and Drama Desk Award winner and Olivier Award nominee Susan Hilferty (Design Dramaturg and Artistic Advisor), Tony and Drama Desk Award-nominated Tatiana Kahvegian (Scenic Design), Camilla Dely (Costume Design), Tony Award-nominated Brandon Stirling Baker (Lighting Design), Sharath Patel (Sound Design), Lucille Lortel and Drama Desk Award nominee Katherine Freer (Projection Designer), Carlos Cippelletti (Co-Composer, Pianist), Ethan Pakchar (Co-Composer), Earon Nealey (Hair, Wig, and Makeup Designer) and Jesse Alick (Dramaturg). Yasmine Lee is the associate director, Matthew Buttrey is the associate scenic designer, Amanda Roberge is the associate costume designer, Jessica Creager is the associate lighting designer, and Joshua Nguyen is the associate sound designer. Tickets for this memorably stunning production may be obtained at www.AmericanRepertoryTheater.org/DiaryofaTapDancer

FEB. 7 & 8: COUNTERPOINT

Caleb Teicher and Conrad Tao are brought to the the Boston Arts Academy Theater, 174 Ipswich Street in Boston by Celebrity Series of Boston. This latest collaboration by pianist/composer Conrad Tao again joins him with choreographer/tap dancer Caleb Teicher. They were last seen together in “More Forever,” which was presented by the Celebrity Series in 2020. In this new dynamic duet performance, the artists create a dialogue of harmonic, theatrical and rhythmic interplay, bridging their disparate traditions and creating a collectively new experience. George Gershwin’s musical composition “Rhapsody in Blue,” itself providing a union of styles, threads through the program’s other musical selections that include J.S. Bach’s “Goldberg Variations,” Art Tatum’s Olympian stride piano creations, Arnold Schoenberg’s take on a Viennese waltz, and a miniature from Tao’s “More Forever” score. Through it all, Tao and Teicher will dazzle with virtuosity and audacity, while showing surprising magic in the dialogue between their art forms. Tickets and more information, visit www.celebrityseries.org

FEB. 27 – MARCH 9: CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS

ANIKAYA Dance Theater returns to Arrow Street Arts, One Arrow Street in Cambridge. This dance company has been captivating audiences in Washington DC, Vermont, India, South Africa, Palestine and Mozambique. The “Conference of the Birds” was inspired by a 12th-century poem written by the Persian poet Farid Ud din Attar. It is a multimedia movement piece that weaves together stories from modern-day refugees and migrants. Directed by Wendy Jehlen, the performance features an international ensemble of dancers from Africa, South America, Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and the U.S. Together they beautifully blend their cultural traditions in a shared spirit of collaboration. The performance is accompanied by original music and projections created by French, Irani, and U.S. artists that exquisitely enhance the experience. The dance tells the tale of a group of birds that are in search of a mythical land of Simurgh. Upon arriving, they find that they have become the Simurgh, thus defining the narrative that it is truly a collection from refugees that symbolizes their journey and their assimilation into a new place while allowing them to maintain their diversity. Tickets for this thoughtful and heartwarming presentation may be obtained at www.arrowstarts.org