by: SHERMIKA DUNNER

In the beautiful, castle-like Alabama Theatre, whose wonder cannot be described in mere words, the Moscow Ballet presented "Great Russian Nutcracker" to the delight of many. Replete with vibrant costumes and fanciful dancing, the Moscow Ballet was a treat indeed.

The scene opened with a dancer (Uncle Drosselmeyer) tinkering with the nutcracker and a doll-like female character. Both were dressed in vibrant red costumes, which made for a magical sight. The dancers gleefully pranced around the stage, making stiff movements as if they were actual dolls.

The dancing was spirited and lively—especially during a scene at a seemingly high society party. The dancers gracefully danced around the stage in stunning costumes that were an array of colors—fuchsia, orange, and brilliant shades of blue. Their movement and technique carried precision and surety. The Russian classical dance styles were very expressive, whimsical, and at times, funny—especially when the Rat King and his mice came out.

The classical (pancake) tutus had ornamentation, allowing one to get engrossed in their beauty alone as the dancers glided across the stage. The dancers were on pointe a majority of the time, leaving the audience in wonder as they held the position, exemplifying years of practice to perfect such graceful and delicate movements on their tip toes.

The addition of the youth dancers from the Dale Serrano Dance Studio and North Jefferson Academy of Dance in Alabama must be duly noted; they were charming and added a lovely touch to the performance.

The wondrous thing about ballet is that it can tell a story utilizing nonverbal communication and music for emphasis, while the viewer is left to complete the details. The ending was magnificent as a dancer did a fouette turn after another, deftly spinning his limber body around as the audience erupted in applause. The audience cheered on the talented dancers who represented emissaries from various parts of the world such as France, Russia, China, Arabia, and more. Their elegant movements were enchanting.

"Great Russian Nutcracker" is a dazzling idyllic ballet that uses magical plot lines, mystical animals, dancing puppets, and an array of brilliant dancers to tell a classical story that is sure to entertain many families. One patron exclaimed that it was his first time seeing a ballet, and how he enjoyed it immensely. This was evidence of a performance well done.