No limits for The Nutcracker’s inclusivity
The Kansas City Ballet will present the first-ever sensory-friendly performance of The Nutcracker on Dec. 12 at 6 p.m.
“We want all families to feel welcome and are committed to (doing) everything we can to ensure that all children experience the joy of this holiday tradition,” said KCB artistic director, Devon Carney in a statement.
Sensory-friendly performances are designed to provide a more comfortable setting for children, families and adults with autism spectrum disorder, sensory sensitivities or other special needs. There are marked differences from the KCB’s regular presentations of The Nutcracker, which open Nov. 30. The level of sound effects is reduced. The house lights remain half-lit. Audience members are free to stand or move about and talk freely during the performance. There’s a designated quiet space. And staff, ushers and volunteers specially trained by experts from Autism Speaks and Children’s Mercy Hospital will be available to assist.
Given that the ballet school offers classes in adaptive dance, “This is a natural next step in making Kansas City Ballet a welcoming and inclusive environment,” says KCB publicity consultant, Ellen McDonald.
This is KCB’s fourth in a series of landmarks firsts in three years. In 2015, the “legendary” ballet company premiered an original $2 million production of The Nutcracker, choreographed by Carney. The sumptuous sets and scenery, shimmering costumes and elegant, energetic choreography dazzled audiences, breaking box-office records. Attendance hit a new all-time high. Carney’s Nutcracker also piqued the interest of artistic leaders at the prestigious Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
The following year, in the midst of planning its 60th anniversary season (the company gave its premier performance on April 30, 1957), KCB was invited to perform Carney’s celebrated version of The Nutcracker at the Kennedy Center, that “every season presents legendary companies from around the globe.”
Past performances have featured the world’s preeminent classical ballet companies. Among them are The Royal Ballet, the Bolshoi Ballet, Ballet Nacional de Cuba, the Paris Opera Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, Australian Ballet, the Kirov Ballet and more.
During the celebration of its diamond jubilee season the next year, KCB moved The Nutcracker to Washington for seven sold-out performances. It took three 52-foot semi-trucks and various staff working throughout the year to transport the entire production – 62 dancers, crew and artistic and administrative staff, sets and costumes. Carney’s Nutcracker opened at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Nov. 22, 2017, coincidentally, the anniversary of Kennedy’s death and the Kennedy centennial year, commemorating the slain president’s birth year.
The momentous occasion marked Carney’s fifth Kennedy Center performance and second for ballet company member, Amaya Rodriguez who previously performed there with Ballet Nacional de Cuba. Both were memorable for her.
“Dancing at the Kennedy Center … has been one of the greatest experiences in my career,” she says. “The two times were with different ballets but with the same emotion of dancing for such a demanding and knowledgeable audience.”
As Rodriguez did in Washington, she’s playing the part of the Sugar Plum Fairy, one of seven dancers taking on the role in the 2018 production as there are multiple rotating casts. Repetition hasn’t diminished Rodriguez ‘s enchantment with Carney’s Nutcracker.
“Since the first time I saw it, I was spellbound from the moment the curtains open until they close. I don’t stop enjoying the beautiful music and the rigorous technical steps,” she says. “It’s a magical ballet.”
