Bulletin E-Edition:
more photosCentral Oregon School of Ballet director Zygmunt Sawiel helps dancers with props during a break in rehearsals for “The Nutcracker” on
Nov. 21. The school has been performing the ballet for 24 years.
Photos by Rob Kerr / The Bulletin
Nutty or nice?
2 different local flavors of a favorite ballet tradition
By Eleanor Pierce / The Bulletin
Published: November 28. 2009 4:00AM PSTWhether you're a traditional Christmas purist or a more laid back holiday celebrant, there will be a “Nutcracker” ballet to suit your tastes in Central Oregon this season.
The Central Oregon School of Ballet's production in Bend is a traditional rendition that has become, for many, a family reunion, while the Redmond School of Dance is offering a new comedic interpretation. For the serious balletomane, maybe this will be the year to see both (see “If you go”).
The unorthodox
Mary Silva, director of the Redmond School of Dance, is planning a unique take on the Tchaikovsky ballet.
“I wanted to do a ballet that was kind of magical, but entertaining, and ... spice it with some comedy,” she said.
The story line in “High Desert Nutcracker” is largely the same as the original, but with a regional flair.
In the original, Clara's family is having a Christmas Eve party when a mysterious character arrives and hands out gifts to the children. Just when it appears that there are not enough toys for Clara, the man produces a nutcracker, which Clara's jealous little brother soon breaks. When Clara later goes to check on her nutcracker, she enters a magical world with characters like the Mouse King, the Sugar Plum Fairy and Taffy Clowns.
In the opening scene of “High Desert Nutcracker,” Silva cast a number of adults, largely parents of her dance students, to represent comical versions of Central Oregonians. One character is a woman in her 50s (who may have had too much Botox) who arrives with her younger beau, whom Silva said cast members have been referring to as “Mr. Cool.”
Clara's family is “A little dysfunctional,” according to Silva. Fritz, the little brother who breaks the nutcracker, is even more bratty than in the original. Clara now has an older sister, Monica, who's suffering from typical teen drama. The parents, understandably, are “a little bit overwhelmed by their own children.”
Silva said Drosselmeyer, who gives Clara the nutcracker, has often been played with a sinister edge. Instead, he has been recast as “one of these really rich guys that fly into Central Oregon for their elk hunting, ranch excursion.” His costume includes a diamond earring.
The opening scene is mostly pantomime, but the second act uses the auditioned dance company affiliated with the school, Ballet Sage. The students in Ballet Sage — all girls except for one boy — range in age from 10 through adult.
More changes thrown in to amuse locals: The mice have been replaced with rock chucks, and instead of soldiers, farmers will make an appearance. The audience will also get treated to a Central Oregon coffee house scene, golfers, cowgirls and skiers.
“Everyone is just having so much fun with this,” Silva said. “(It's) just a little twist on the classic. I think everybody will enjoy it.”
The traditional
The Central Oregon School of Ballet's production of “The Nutcracker” is now in its 24th year. The owners of the studio — Zygmunt and Sarah Sawiel, who met in West Germany when both were professional ballet dancers in a Bavarian opera house in the early 1970s — are fond of tradition.
For instance, Zygmunt, originally from Poland, explained how in the European tradition, a tutu is a serious accomplishment, something a dancer earns.
“When I moved from Europe (to the U.S.), it freaked me out to see little girls jumping around in tutus.”
But the Sawiels have created their own traditions here, and their “Nutcracker” tradition is one many local families have adopted as their own.
Trevor Hayden, 17, said he first saw “The Nutcracker” when he was 4.
“I can't remember much about the actual performance, I just knew it was incredible,” he said. He said he knew right away that he wanted to dance.
Trevor was too young to enter the ballet school at the time, so his family waited until he was almost 7 before getting him into a class.
Trevor's dad, Sam, said it wasn't long before the Sawiels noticed Trevor's talent.
“After about a month or so, Zygmunt came to me and said, ‘He can only stay here until he's 12, then he needs to go away.'”
Trevor is now a senior at The Kirov Academy of Ballet of Washington, D.C., and making plans to audition for ballet companies in Europe once he graduates.
As a young child, Trevor looked forward to performing in “The Nutcracker” each year. Every student in the school gets a part in the annual performance.
“I loved it,” he said. “It was the best, it was my favorite time of year.”
Home this week for Thanksgiving, Trevor said his school schedule will keep him from seeing this year's production. But he still planned to stop and visit with Zygmunt and Sarah while in town, if the couple can take a break from working on this year's production, which will include about 110 dancers.
With all of those dancers, some as young as 5, plus costumes, make-up, hair, backdrops that the school rents from a ballet company in Michigan and curtains, the backstage operation is hard work.
“There's a whole other ballet backstage,” Sam Hayden said, with parents and an army of volunteers who come back year after year.
“It's like a family reunion,” said Annette Perry, who volunteers to work on “The Nutcracker” each year, despite the fact that her own daughters stopped dancing years ago.
When asked whether he planned to continue helping out backstage with curtains, costumes and fake snow, Sam replied: “Absolutely.”
“It's another family, does that make sense?” he said. Plus, “It's a way to pay (the Sawiels) back for what they've done for us.”
This year, the Sawiels and their helpers hope to start new traditions, as well, by fostering new community connections. They've formed partnerships with the JROTC and a group of 4-H students raising money to go to horse judging nationals in Denver in January. The school is also working with the Central Oregon Detachment of the Marine Corps League, helping with their Toys for Tots campaign by placing donation bins at the performances. In addition, a special program is in the works to bring local families of deployed military personnel to a performance of the ballet and a special meet-and-greet with the dancers.
Zygmunt said he thinks going to see a ballet is a good way to escape your troubles and enjoy some holiday magic. Trevor Hayden agreed.
Remembering the first time he saw “The Nutcracker,” Trevor said, “I remember the dolls from the first act. I thought they were real dolls. I didn't realize they were people pretending to be dolls. There's no other ballet that's that magical for little kids.”
Eleanor Pierce can be reached at 541-617-7828 or epierce@bendbulletin.com.
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