It’s all about Tchaikovsky: Salt Creek Ballet brings The Nutcracker back to the stage

Salt Creek Ballet will feature Maestro Benjamin Nadel and Artistic Director Erica De La O at 6 p.m. on Nov. 30 in its pre-performance talk about the nuances of Tchaikovsky’s score.

Photo: Salt Creek Ballet, The Nutcracker. Photo courtesy of Salt Creek Ballet.

It’s impossible to imagine the Christmas season without The Nutcracker, a beloved ballet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Written in 1892, this two-act classical ballet remains a symbol of the holiday spirit with its fairytale mystery, beauty, and elegance. Salt Creek Ballet, a leading non-profit Chicagoland ballet school and performance company, is happy to continue its beloved holiday tradition by delighting its audience with this enchanting masterpiece.

It will be the 39th year for Salt Creek Ballet to perform this critically acclaimed production on the stage at Hinsdale Central Auditorium located at 5500 S. Grant Street in Hinsdale. The performances will take place at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, November 30 and at 1 p.m. on Sunday, December 1.

It’s important to note that at 6 p.m., right before the evening performance on November 30, Salt Creek Ballet will feature Maestro Benjamin Nadel and Artistic Director Erica De La O in its free pre-performance talk. This discussion will feature a conversation between a musician and a dancer familiar with Tchaikovsky’s work. It will also focus on artistic and emotional connections that the dancers have with Tchaikovsky’s music.

“We are thrilled to announce that Maestro Benjamin Nadel will be joining us for the pre-show talk at our Hinsdale evening performance of The Nutcracker,” said Erica De La O, Artistic Director at Salt Creek Ballet. “Maestro Nadel is eager to share his insights with our audience about Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker score and its link to our dancers' movements.”

Photo: Maestro Benjamin Nadel and Artistic Director Erica De La O. Courtesy of the artists.

“This talk presents a rare opportunity for patrons to hear directly from the maestro about the nuances in Tchaikovsky’s score,” continued De La O, who will join Maestro Nadel on stage and will invite the audience to explore movement as a form of storytelling. “We are excited to give our audience another way to connect with this beloved holiday classic and look forward to welcoming you to this special event.”

This magnificent production of The Nutcracker, led by Artistic Directors Erica De La O and Kristopher Wojtera, will certainly be a perfect way to embrace the holiday spirit and introduce children of all ages to the elegance and allure of classical dance and Tchaikovsky’s music. Everyone in the audience will relate to this touching story about a girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life on Christmas Eve. Based on The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, a fantasy story written in 1816 by Prussian author E. T. A. Hoffmann, The Nutcracker was Tchaikovsky’s final ballet and probably one of the best compositions ever created.

Every note of this masterpiece is important, and every sound of it is memorable. Tchaikovsky was a master of evoking emotions with his music and gave dancers an amazing opportunity to find inspiration in his melodies and harmonies. He saw his ballet as a combination of live music and live dance, and by doing that he let the dancers appreciate deeper the narrative delivered by his music. Sensitive and expressive, The Nutcracker stays forever alive because Tchaikovsky found a way to create an artistic unity by connecting musical motifs with visual expressions.

Salt Creek Ballet will create a whole set of events related to The Nutcracker production. The two performances that will take place on Saturday, November 30 at 2 p.m. and at 7 p.m. at Hinsdale Central Auditorium will be the two opening performances for the Salt Creek Ballet holiday season, and they shouldn’t be missed! Especially, because Santa Claus will be available once again for a unique opportunity to take pictures for both performances on that day. After the 2 p.m. show, Salt Creek Ballet will offer an onstage experience where the curtain will be lifted to allow the children to see the sled, how the snow falls, and how large the Mother Ginger skirt is!

Photo: Salt Creek Ballet, The Nutcracker. Photo courtesy of Salt Creek Ballet.

At its Sunday’s matinee on December 1, it will once again host the beloved Sugar Plum Party, a cherished annual event for families. The audience members will have a chance to meet and greet alongside the dancers including the Sugar Plum Fairy, Clara, the Rat King and The Nutcracker. Guests will also be able to see the amazing props up close and enjoy cookies and hot chocolate.

Additionally, the Nutcracker Boutique will be open for all performances, offering a delightful selection of Nutcracker-themed holiday decorations and ornaments for purchase.

Salt Creek Ballet will offer the community a chance to "be an Angel" with their Angel Ticket program. With a small donation, everyone can purchase a Nutcracker ticket for an underprivileged child and their parent, giving them the gift of live theatre for the holidays. To donate, please go to https://saltcreekballet.org/ways-to-give/.

Tickets for Saturday, November 30 performances are $45 for adults and $42 for children (12 and under) and seniors (65 and older). Tickets for the Sunday, December 1 performance and Sugar Plum Party (included) are $ 52 for adults, $ 49 for children and seniors. To purchase tickets and to get additional information, please visit Salt Creek Ballet online at https://saltcreekballet.org/the-nutcracker/. Free parking is available next to Hinsdale Central Auditorium located at 5500 S. Grant Street in Hinsdale.

The North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie will host Salt Creek Ballet’s The Nutcracker on Friday, December 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 7 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. More information can be found at https://northshorecenter.org/event/the-nutcracker/2024-12-06/.

Additionally, the McAninch Arts center will host Salt Creek Ballet’s The Nutcracker, Saturday December 14, at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. and Sunday, December 15 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. New Philharmonic, under the baton of Music Director/Conductor Kirk Muspratt, will perform Tchaikovsky's score live for the rare opportunity to see “The Nutcracker” danced to live orchestral music. For more information, please go to https://atthemac.org/events/nutcracker-salt-creek-ballet/.

Natalia Dagenhart