This holiday season, the Brooklyn Ballet is set to present a fresh interpretation of the festive classic, The Brooklyn Nutcracker, from December 6 to 14, 2023. The production creatively integrates the diverse culture and traditions of Brooklyn, providing a unique twist on the beloved tale.
In the company’s rehearsal studio, the enchanting melodies of Tchaikovsky fill the air as dancers practice their routines. Among them is Tristan Grannum, the ballet’s Director of Community Outreach, who expresses his enthusiasm for broadening the ballet genre. “I adore classical ballet, but classical ballet is not the only style that there is in the world,” Grannum stated. He emphasizes the importance of evolution within the art form, noting, “Why not see something that has evolved the art form?”
A Personal Journey to the Stage
Grannum’s journey to ballet began in a public school in Bushwick, where a childhood field trip sparked his passion for dance. “That was like the moment where I was like, ‘I can do this on stage? I can dance for people? I can get paid to do this?'” he recalled. This transformative experience laid the groundwork for his commitment to the art.
This year, Grannum takes on the role of the Snow King, sharing the stage with Miku Kawamura, a dancer he has admired for nearly a decade. “No where else can have this, only Brooklyn,” Kawamura remarked, highlighting the cultural richness that shapes this modern adaptation of The Nutcracker.
Cultural Fusion in Performance
Known as the city’s most diverse adaptation of the classic, the production incorporates various cultural influences, including Native American hoop dance, Middle Eastern belly dance, and Brooklyn-inspired street styles. Artistic director and founder Lynn Parkerson explains, “We use that beautiful music, but we also make some space in it for the flamenco castanets, for an accordion, for the Ukrainian Hopak.”
Under Parkerson’s vision, the Brooklyn Ballet aims to create a bridge between traditional ballet and contemporary innovation. “This Brooklyn Nutcracker is a new way to do something while keeping the tradition of ballet beautifully presented and alive and welcoming others into that world,” she shared.
Grannum’s dedication to the art extends beyond the stage. Through the company’s Elevate outreach program, he actively works with students who may lack access to ballet education. “I am trying to give back to the students that never necessarily had access to arts education, because at the end of the day, we want to see ballet become more diverse,” Grannum explained.
The Elevate program offers classroom instruction, subsidized performance tickets, and scholarships aimed at expanding opportunities for young dancers. “Public school outreach programs changed my life. That’s why I’m doing what I’m doing,” Parkerson stated. “It’s just a bit of exposure to a real dancer and just falling in love with the form.”
As The Brooklyn Nutcracker prepares to take the stage, it promises to deliver a holiday experience infused with the vibrant tapestry of Brooklyn.
