This year marks the Kansas City Ballet's 34th annual production of The Nutcracker, with music by Tchaikovsky and choreography by the late Artistic Director Emeritus Todd Bolender. Here, Ballet Master James Jordan and Associate Ballet Mistress Lisa Thorn talk about the production. http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/national/local-national-553606.mp3
This year marks the Kansas City Ballet's 34th annual production of The Nutcracker, with music by Tchaikovsky and choreography by the late Artistic Director Emeritus Todd Bolender. The ballet tells the story of a young girl named Clara who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince, a fierce battle against a Mouse King, and a trip to the Kingdom of Sweets. In the Kansas City Ballet's production, more than 200 children - ranging in age from 7 to 18 - appear as mice, soldiers, and other roles, along with more than 20 members of the company. Ballet Master James Jordan and Associate Ballet Mistress Lisa Thorn...both former company dancers...talked about the changes in this year's production: a new location (the Music Hall), and the passing in October of Artistic Director Emeritus Todd Bolender.