Story by Karen Parr-Moody
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The enchanted tale of “The Nutcracker” is one of those holiday traditions that delights both the young and the old. And as with all of his productions, Christopher Mohnani, the artistic director of Dance Theatre of Tennessee, wants to sprinkle the magic across every sector of the public.
Mohnani has expressed the same sentiment repeatedly in recent years: “Ballet is not as accessible as it could be.”
Through his nonprofit, the goal is to change that. With “The Nutcracker,” he takes his dance company beyond the metropolis to four other towns, including Clarksville, Smithville, Murfreesboro and Smyrna.
The Clarksville performance is at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20 at Clement Auditorium at Austin Peay State University, 601 College Street. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for youths and $18 for groups of 15 or larger; they may be bought through www.dancetheatretn.org or at www.ticketsnashville.com.
As part of “The Nutcracker” tradition, a local celebrity typically plays the role of Mother Ginger. This year it will be Mayor Kim McMillan.
For the third year, Dance Theatre of Tennessee has traveled to Clarksville to perform this historic ballet about a young girl, Clara, who visits the Land of Sweets with her nutcracker doll and meets the Sugar Plum Fairy. For many families in larger cities, seeing “The Nutcracker” each year is as traditional as trimming the Christmas tree.
Mohnani hopes that, in touring further afield with his ballet company, that tradition will gain even more ground.
“The beauty of ‘The Nutcracker’ is that during the holidays, people always want to go to something that is familiar,” Mohnani said. “And ‘The Nutcracker’ has been that for many families, not just across the country, but all over the world. It’s like going to a holiday party or a gathering or a family reunion … That is why it’s always special for us to bring this holiday classic to all of these cities where people, otherwise, would not have the chance to experience it unless they go to Nashville or other cities.”
And when the enchanting dancers leap across the stage, a fantasy will unfold for both young and old.
During her magical journey, Clara meets an array of dancers in the Land of Sweets. Photo courtesy of Dance Theatre of Nashville.
Karen Parr-Moody began a career as a New York journalist, working as a fashion reporter for Women’s Wear Daily, a beauty editor for Young Miss and a beauty and fashion writer for both In Style and People magazines. Regionally, she has been a writer at The Leaf-Chronicle newspaper and currently writes about arts and culture for Nashville Arts magazine each month.