Three distinct adaptations of 'Nutcracker'

Seen above is a scene from the Universal Ballet’s “Nutcracker.” / Courtesy of Universal Ballet

By Kwon Ji-youn

The country’s three most prominent ballet companies will stage “Nutcracker” this holiday season.

The Nutcracker, one of “Tchaikovsky’s three ballets,” was premiered at the Mariinsky Theater in the Russian city of St. Petersburg in 1892, and has since kept audiences enthralled each winter.

The Universal Ballet, the Korean National Ballet and the Seoul Ballet Theater will each stage distinct renditions of the “Nutcracker,” a two act ballet based on “The Nutcracker and the King of Mice” written by E.T.A. Hoffman.

It tells the story of a young German girl who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and a fierce battle against a Mouse King with seven heads, and was originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Tchaikovsky.

The Seoul Ballet Theater performs “Nutcracker” during a previous performance in this file photo. The company has supplemented traditional Korean details. Mother Ginger appears in the traditional attire of a Joseon queen. / Courtesy of Seoul Ballet Theater

Universal Ballet

The Universal Ballet, which will stage 20 performances of the Nutcracker this season, has added an interesting twist to the story — Clara, the heroine, dreams of being transformed into a fairy after the celebration of sweets in the second act.

Critics have said the Universal Ballet’s staging of Vasili Vainonen’s choreography will recall performances by the Mariinsky Ballet, for which the choreographer worked. Balletomanes will without a doubt delight in Clara’s first encounter with the prince, a contemporary act that tends toward abstraction. Other highlights will include the battle between the mice and the nutcracker, real magic shows and the snowflake fairies’ dance with the toys from Spain, Russia, China and Arabia.

Performances will continue until Dec. 31 at the Universal Art Center in eastern Seoul. Tickets are available on Interpark and cost from 10,000 to 200,000 won. For more information, call 070) 7124-1798.

Korea National Ballet

The Korean National Ballet (KNB), along with the Korean Symphony Orchestra led by conductor Park Tae-young, has created a true work of art out of a story that can be deemed too childish.

Drosselmeyer, a local councilman, magician, and Clara’s godfather in the original, takes on a larger role in this Yury Grigorovich adaptation — he’s more mysterious, omnipotent and at times can be frightening. The Russian choreographer’s production premiered at the Bolshoi in 1966.

In the KNB’s version, Clara takes on the name Marie, the name of the protagonist in the original, and Drosselmeyer is a lawyer. The routine is more intricate and showy, and the nutcracker will be portrayed by a dancer, not a wooden doll.

The KNB, which premiered the Bolshoi version of the ballet in Korea in 2000, has sold out performances of the Nutcracker for the past 14 years, and this year will undoubtedly be no exception. This year’s production will take place Dec. 20 through 28 at the Seoul Arts Center, southern Seoul. Tickets cost from 5,000 to 90,000 won. For more information, call 02) 587-6181.

Seoul Ballet Theater

The Seoul Ballet Theater (SBT) will stage a James Jeon adaptation of the Nutcracker on Dec. 27 through 28 at the SK Atrium in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province.

Jeon, SBT founder and artistic director, has taken scenes that could come across as humdrum and added pizzazz with a fast tempo to create a truly dynamic and jaunty Nutcracker.

In the fairies’ dance with toys from around the world, Jeon has included traditional Korean details — for instance, dancers will twirl a sangmo, a traditional hat with a ribbon, while beating the janggu drum. Mother Ginger will appear in the traditional attire of a Joseon queen, and Drosselmeyer will be portrayed by Jeon himself. Tickets cost from 20,000 to 30,000 won. For more information, call 02) 3442-2637.

Follow Kwon Ji-youn on Twitter @jennajykwon