The DC Traveler

In 1960, jazz master “Duke” Ellington and composer Billy Strayhorn (Take the A Train) worked on a jazzy, slightly campy, yet whimsical remake of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” ballet score.

Momentum Dance Theater takes Ellington’s score and takes a twist on the classic Nutcracker ballet, with the Jazz, Hip-Hop Nutcracker. They fast-forwarded the original story and dancing to 2006. The music combines both the reworked Ellington jazz, swing and blues Nutcracker score with current hip-hop and club music. The dancing takes on other forms by combining jazz and hip-hop dance with breakdancers and Latin dances turing it into a high-energy, updated “urbal ethnic” Nutcracker.

Rats and ninjas replace mice and soldiers, and the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy is swapped with the Sugar Rum Cherry.

The lead characters are both a boy and a girl; one an over-active writer and the other a shy and withdrawn artist. After getting their Christmas presents, a writer’s journal and a sketch book, the story and dancing springs from their imagination and leads them to discover their inner strengths through creativity.

Over 25 area children and teen dance students join the company’s professional dancers, acrobats and breakdancers in the performance. Breakdancers will also incorporate capoeira, a Brazilian dance martial art.

Momentum Dance Theatre
Jazz, Hip-Hip Nutcracker

Dates
December 7, 8 and 9
Prince Georges County Publick Playhouse
5445 Landover Road
Cheverly, MD 20784
301-277-1710 (Box Office)

December 15, 16 and 17
Stuart Hobson Middle School
410 E Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
202-672-0102 (Tickets)
Nearest Metro subway station - Union Station

Tickets
Adults $18.00 in advance ($2.00 more at the door), youth $12.00, kids $10.00

Check out my recent post on the Washington Ballet’s version of the Nutcracker.

Photo courtesy of Momentum Dance Theatre

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