Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY -- A controversial comment about the New York City Ballet's production of "The Nutcracker" has a connection to Salt Lake City's Ballet West. The same dance critic reviewed our "Nutcracker," but with very different results.
Ballet West's "Nutcracker" remains beloved but hardly alone -- there are many throughout the country and this year in the Big Apple, there is big controversy.
New York Times dance critic Alastair Macaulay wrote of New York City Ballet's Jenifer Ringer, who plays the Sugarplum Fairy, that she "... looked as if she'd eaten one sugarplum too many."
"I was, of course, thrilled and relieved and excited for the company by the review, but also not a hundred percent surprised." Ballet West artistic director Adam Sklute
Audiences and fellow dancers came to Ringer's defense.
"You know, sometimes bad reviews spark more people to come to the ballet because they're saying, 'Oh, what are they talking about? What is this hubub?' But we do always appreciate the better reviews," said Ballet West principle artist Christiana Bennett.
When Ballet West learned the same dance critic would review their "Nutcracker," it was more than a little nerve-racking.
Ballet West's depiction, created by Willam Christensen, is the oldest in the country. Macaulay called it "One of the best productions I've ever seen" and "The best discovery of my 'Nutcracker' marathon."
Peter Christie, who has played the role of Drosselmeyer for 25 years and is retiring after this show, received high marks from Macaulay.
"For me, that's one of the reasons I'm still here after all these years is because even through all the changes of artistic leadership, the heart and core of Mr. Christensen's Ballet West is still there," said Christie.
"I was, of course, thrilled and relieved and excited for the company by the review, but also not a hundred percent surprised," said Ballet West's artistic director Adam Sklute.
Sklute says both the good and bad reviews have had the same result for both dance companies -- selling more tickets.
Ballet West has long ranked in the top five companies in America, but apparently when it comes to "The Nutcracker," no one does it better.
E-mail: cmikita@ksl.com
