Neville's Nutcracker

The Nutcracker according to Brenda R. Neville is a cozy affair set in contemporary, high-rise Manhattan. Since her amiable Drosselmeyer (Yasu Suzuki) is a well-traveled, open-minded diplomat, she can rightly give him friends and associates of diverse races and nationalities and even have young Clara (Ally Taylor Sacks) get dreamy over an NYPD cadet (Christopher McDaniel) who happens to be Black. What's more, Neville Dance Theatre's Nutcracker puts out the red carpet for a bustling world of dance—from tango to Tinikling, from hip hop to Fayzah Claudia Chisolm's superbly crafted "Arabian" solo. Each of the non-ballet dance forms presented in the party celebration emphasizes carefully executed authentic movement rather than the usual balletic stylization of a sprinkling of light ethnic flavors. 

This past week, NDT brought its Nutcracker to Chelsea's Hudson Guild Theater, where--on Saturday's matinee performance--the floor gave dancers a few scares. The choreographer and troupe nevertheless made the best of cramped stage space, filling it with gaiety and flourish.

I never grew up a Nutcracker fan. (Sorry! At Xmastime, my family headed to Radio City for the movies and Rockettes.) But I can certainly get behind a project that indulges my love of world dance. Neville is onto something whose development could be supported and enhanced, I think, by nicer, more adequate space.

Click here to learn more about Brooklyn's Neville Dance Theatre.

Brenda Neville: Body and Soul podcast

This season, Brenda Neville's Neville Dance Theatre brings a contemporary Nutcracker with a world of difference to Brooklyn's Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts (Long Island University). With a Brooklyn-based setting that features techie toys for kids of all ages and a party mix of capoeira, tango, Irish dancing and more, this production puts a fresh spin on the beloved winter classic.

(c)2008,Eva Yaa Asantewaa

MP3 File

Program Notes: Upcoming on "Body and Soul"

This season, Brenda Neville's Neville Dance Theatre brings a contemporary Nutcracker with a world of difference to Brooklyn's Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts (Long Island University). With a Brooklyn-based setting that features techie toys for kids of all ages and a party mix of capoeira, tango, Irish dancing and more, this production puts a fresh spin on the beloved winter classic.

Thursday, December 18th, 2008 (Gala) at 8pm
Friday, December 19th, 2008 at 7:30pm
Saturday, December 20th, 2008 at 3:00pm (Family Performance) and 7:30pm

Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts
1 University Plaza, Brooklyn
Information and ticketing: 718.488.1624 or Web site

Brenda R. Neville (Director/Choreographer), has spent the last two decades performing and choreographing ballet, modern, Argentine Tango, Flamenco and other ethnic dances in over 18 different countries with companies such as the Milwaukee Ballet, Indianapolis Dance Company, AllNations Dance Company, Marc DeGarmo & Dancers, Covenant Dance Theatre and in numerous musical theatre productions. Her expertise covers a vast array of dance styles giving her choreography exceptional diversity and color. She has trained and performed with some of the top talents in dance today, including Juan Carlos Copes, Soledad Barrio, Sean Curran, Elizabeth Parkinson, Marjorie Mussman and Graciela Kozak.

An active dance teacher in the New York City area, she is a current faculty dance instructor at The Ailey School and Covenant Ballet Theatre of Brooklyn. Her students have been accepted by some of the most reputable dance programs and schools in the country, including American Ballet Theatre, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and LaGuardia Performing Arts High School. An expert ballet pointe shoe fitter, she has assisted in the development of the Gaynor Minden pointe shoe and currently works with Freed of London. She is a cum laude graduate of Butler University, receiving a B.A. in Dance Pedagogy, and is a co-founder of World Dance Theatre.