Above her is the photograph of the christensen brothers erik tomasson the children cast in nutcracker are students from sf ballet school. They are chosen from a schoolwide audition that is held every september. The russian ballet was in town, so christensen invited ballet master george balanchine and ballerina alexandra danilova to his apartment overlooking golden gate park and extracted secrets of. Bibliography books, articles, videos and other information about lew christensen and the christensen brothers the nutcracker comes to america. We follow the young mens zigzagging journeys from the ballet studio to vaudeville stages across the country, to new york to dance. Brigham city is home of three remarkable christensen brothers, willam, harold, and lou, who learned to dance at the box elder academy of music and dance and would transform dance in the american west. How three ballet loving brothers created a holiday tradition millbrook press, september 1, 2015 written by chris barton with illustrations by cathy gendron offers a fascinating explanation. Ballet west presents the nutcracker december 726, 2019 at the capitol theatre in salt lake city. Theres also a prop that you may not noticethe photos above the fireplace in the party scene. Willam christensen, american dancer, choreographer, and teacher who, along with his brothers, harold and lew, established the san francisco ballet company. Oct 16, 2001 he and his brothers put ballet on the map in america.
Nutcracker 1944, the first fulllength version of this classic ever presented in this. Grand rapids ballet chose val caniparoli of the san francisco ballet, who is known for his innovative choreography, to choreograph and create a new nutcracker voice. On return to new york in 1946 he joined balanchines and kirsteins latest project, ballet society later to be known as the new york city ballet where he became a ballet master. This production used the ballet s original plot and was choreographed by willam christensen, who danced the role of the cavalier. Dec 06, 2018 choreographer and company cofounder willam christensen was an exacting ballet taskmaster, no doubt, but he and his brothers had spent time in vaudeville, too, and comically colliding footmen, roughhousing children, a dexterous, huggable oversize bear vinicius lima, dancing monkeys, and melodramatic mice infuse the proceedings with a general. As a utah family tradition, ballet wests nutcracker has deep roots. Ballet wests historic, sumptuous nutcracker delights at.
Heres whats new, whats staying the same in ballet west. The nutcracker complete ballet score licensed to youtube by kontor new media music, kobalt awal digital limited on behalf of rpo records. The first performance of the nutcracker in the united states was by the san francisco opera ballet, in 1944. Christensens nutcracker was the first of five staged by san francisco ballet, where the piece has grown larger, more lavish, and more sophisticated with each subsequent production.
Experience the joy of the art you help provide through access to the artists and art that few can claim. Photo courtesy of the san francisco performing arts library and museum in 1951 lew christensen joined willam as codirector of san francisco ballet and the two brothers mounted a new production of the nutcracker for the christmas. The nutcracker from ballet west, now at the kennedy center photo. Ballet wests production of the nutcracker is not only a utah tradition, its the longestrunning production of its kind in the united states.
Meet willam, harold, and lew christensen, three smalltown utah boys who caught the ballet bug in the early 1900s. It included two very traditional versions the 1989 bolshoi ballet s nutcracker and the 2009 royal ballet nutcracker as well as the berlin state opera ballet s nutcracker, maurice bejarts nutcracker, and the ballet of monte carlos casse noisette circus. Christensen later founded ballet west, which continues to perform his version of the nutcracker each year. The 2010 battle of the nutcrackers began its run on december 6, 2010. Choreography for nutcracker grand rapids ballet blog. The ensuing 75 years saw the san francisco ballet grow and mature under the direction of such masters as the christensen brothers william, lew and harold, michael smuin and helgi tomasson. How three balletloving brothers created a holiday tradition millbrook picture books kindle edition by barton, chris, gendron, cathy. Im heavily influenced by three different choreographers within those 43 years. Nutcracker 1944, the first fulllength version of this classic ever presented in this country.
New picture book explores how 3 utah brothers created a. Nov 30, 2016 grand rapids ballets newest version of the nutcracker is a unique production for west michigan, which stays true to the original story. The movement was fueled by the christensen brothers from utah, who turned their. Nov 26, 2018 that said, possokhov is following the traditional american story line as laid out by the christensen brothers in san francisco 1944 and george balanchine in new york 1954, though his iteration. Im influenced heavily by lew christensens version of the nutcracker. In 1944, san francisco ballet founding artistic director willam christensen choreographed the u. It all begins with three births in 1902, 1904 and 1909. Claras on her toes for 60th anniversary of nutcracker. Christensen studied with the great ballet master and reformer michel fokine. In addition to staging the first stateside nutcracker, swan lake and. How three ballet loving brothers created a holiday tradition millbrook picture books barton, chris, gendron, cathy on. Leap into the 2019 san francisco ballet season datebook.
And when the music starts, you can close your eyes and allow visions of sugarplums and snowflakes, flowers and a fairyland to enter your imagination. If you look closely at the pictures on the fireplace wall in act 1 of san francisco ballet s current production, you can find family photos of the christensen brothers. Willam produced the first nutcracker ballet in america on december 24, 1944 at the san francisco war memorial opera house. Its also the story of the christensen brothers, who started both the san francisco ballet and ballet west. San francisco ballet is a ballet company, founded in 1933 as the san francisco opera ballet under the leadership of ballet master adolph bolm.
Christensen was the last of three brothersthe others being lew and. Christensens nutcracker was the first of five staged by san francisco ballet, where the. Meet willam, harold, and lew christensen, three smalltown utah boys. Collectively, willam, lew and harold christensen, all hardy sons of utah and erstwhile vaudevillians, gave san francisco its enduring classical dance culture, they did. Talking props with the prop master san francisco ballet. San francisco ballet was the first professional ballet company in the united states. I thought it was important for all of us to have a constant reminder of how this worldclass ballet company got started. The christensen brothers, pioneers of the extraordinary artistic vision that would become sf ballet, changed the landscape of ballet.
Gisella caccialanza, the wife of lew christensen, danced the role of the sugar plum fairy. If you look closely at the pictures on the fireplace wall in act 1 of san francisco ballet s current production, you can find family photos of the christensen brothers, founders of the company. Becoming a professor of theatre ballet at the university of utah 1951, christensen organized a department of ballet and choreography, established an annual campus ballet gala with guest artists. Every december, the nutcracker comes to life in theaters all across the united states. He is known for bringing the complete version of the russian ballet the nutcracker to the united states, as well as staging the first american performances of swan lake and coppelia. The party all young dancers want to attend sf ballet blog. Sf ballet school student as daisy greene at the end of the party scene in tomassons nutcracker.
The production was directed by william christensen. Complex, meticulously crafted, the ballet s component parts ingeniously interlock to produce what can only be called alchemy. In 1938, to accommodate this development, merola engaged william christensen to take over the ballet and school. He became the companys ballet master in 1938, purchased it from the opera in. Photo by frederick melton, courtesy dance magazine archives. F christensen, last of three brothers who championed american ballet. Photos from beloved ballet across decades inside the history of the performance that was considered a flop during its russian debut.
The nutcracker 1944, basing his versions on historical research. Oct 16, 2001 in 1937, willam christensen accepted an offer to become the principal male soloist of the san francisco opera ballet. Christensen, director of the san francisco ballet in the 1940s, had not seen a complete nutcracker before creating his own. Christensen brothers musicians of the san francisco ballet. That said, possokhov is following the traditional american story line as laid out by the christensen brothers in san francisco 1944 and george balanchine in new york 1954, though his iteration. Christensen drew on the memories of george balanchine and alexandra danilova, both of whom had performed the ballet in russia.
How three ballet loving brothers created a holiday tradition by chris barton. Oct 15, 2019 sf ballet school student as daisy greene at the end of the party scene in tomassons nutcracker. For many, the holidays are not complete until theyve seen and taken childrengrandchildren to this beautiful, joyful production. The christensen brothers and the san francisco ballet foundsf. Other than that fact, i cant remember much about it, but i mention it because it was on television, and therefor there may be a record of it lurking somewhere. And the 60year history of ballet wests nutcracker is a. December 2014 marked roy malans final nutcracker season as concertmaster for the san francisco ballet orchestra. The first fulllength production in the united states.
Beloved by his colleagues, and always on the go, we managed to catch up with roy to ask him a few questions. Meet william, harold, and lew christensen, three smalltown utah boys who caught the ballet bug in the early 1900s. This production used the ballets original plot and was choreographed by willam christensen, who danced the role of the cavalier. Dec 09, 2018 the party scene in ballet wests the nutcracker. Willam christensens 1944 nutcracker san francisco ballet. Ballet west for children program description the ballet west for children program is designed to give elementary school audiences an introduction to the art of ballet. The christensen brothers brought the first version of nutcracker to north america, at the san francisco ballet. Gisella caccialanza, ballerina wife of willams brother lew, danced the. Lew christensen joined his brothers in san francisco upon returning from world war ii.
Celina cummings as the snow queen in san francisco ballet s first performances of the nutcracker 1944. Tchaikovskys nowclassic ballet the nutcracker received its first complete production in the u. Although the nutcracker ballet seems like a timeless holiday tradition, its only been around since the second half of the twentieth century. Classical ballets have evolved over time, lending themselves to different interpretations as choreographers and directors create works that reflect their visions of the story. While the christensen brothers have rightly earned their place in dance history for founding major ballet companies and schools, their best. Dec 04, 2017 listen the nutcracker 2017 1hour 57min 59sec. Dec 07, 2008 if you look closely at the pictures on the fireplace wall in act 1 of san francisco ballet s current production, you can find family photos of the christensen brothers, founders of the company. The full score was available only through the library of congress. Three brothers from utah, willam, harold, and lew christensen were responsible for bringing the russian ballet to the u. Willam christensens 1944 nutcracker sf ballet blog. Christensen was also the founder of ballet west, the choreographer of the first american nutcracker and a dedicated teacher of.
A small touring group comprised of ballet west ii company dancers and a narrator performs the presentation entitled, ballet and the nutcracker. Ballerina leaps from tva dance competition to nutcracker. The artistic director said willam christensen and his brothers carved out a legendary spot for themselves in the ballet world. Christensen once said that the secret to choreographing it was in the music. Im influenced heavily by lew christensen s version of the nutcracker. Willam christensen, director of san francisco ballet from 193851 and the choreographer of americas first fulllength nutcracker, had no idea that he was launching a national holiday tradition. As ballet west gets ready to celebrate the 75th anniversary of christensen s production americas first nutcracker and the longestrunning in the country each participant must consciously keep the 30 performances what oaks calls a monthlong train ride fresh. Which is your favourite version of the nutcracker and why. Before willam christensen came to salt lake city in 1951 to found the company that by 1963 would become ballet west, he and his brothers cofounded san francisco ballet and launched the first. The ballet became its own entity in 1942, two years after staging americas first fulllength swan lake and two years before premiering the countrys first fulllength nutcracker under the leadership of brothers willam, lew and harold christensen.
Christensen left the san francisco ballet in the care of his brother, harold. Affectionately considered the grandfather of american ballet, mr. He and his brothers put ballet on the map in america. While the christensen brothers have rightly earned their place in dance history for founding major ballet companies and schools, their bestknown achievement continues to take the form of giant mice, snow queens, candy fairies, russian trepaks and a dashing toy nutcracker cometolife. Meet the man keeping alive utahs the nutcracker obsession. Its actually of the christensen brothersthe founders of sf balletas children with their parents and as adults. Grand rapids ballet s newest version of the nutcracker is a unique production for west michigan, which stays true to the original story. Luke isley thats what ballet west did last year under adam sklutes artistic direction. How three ballet loving brothers created a holiday tradition millbrook picture books. Whats the right age to introduce a child to the nutcracker. Join bestselling author, chris barton for a discussion and learn the fascinating, rich history of willam christensen, ballet wests founder, and his brothers who brought the nutcracker to america.
How three balletloving brothers created a holiday tradition millbrook picture books barton, chris, gendron, cathy on. The company is currently based in the war memorial opera house, san francisco, under the direction of helgi tomasson. Oct 10, 1984 lew christensen, who was the first leading male dancer in the united states for george balanchine and a longtime director of the san francisco ballet, died yesterday at peninsula hospital in. Public domain compositions, and 2 music rights societies. Nutcracker in americafor san francisco ballet in 1944along with. According to modest tchaikovsky, the composer was very little pleased by the subject of the nutcracker, more precisely with the nature of the ballet s scenario, since e. Lew christensen, william christensen, and helgi tomasson. He is known for bringing the complete version of the russian ballet the nutcracker. Caniparoli prefers to present the ballet traditionally he first encountered the nutcracker at the san francisco ballet when it was choreographed by the christensen brothers. In the nutcracker comes to america, author chris barton introduces us to the remarkable christensen brothers, willam, harold and lew, whose danceloving, violinplaying grandfather emigrated from denmark and settled in utah.
But how did this 19thcentury russian ballet become such a big part of the holidays in 21stcentury america. Over the next decade, the company toured the ballet extensively, exposing it to audiences nationwide. He didnt bring the ballet back until 1949, only then did he understand the scope of the publics interest in nutcracker. Willam farr christensen august 27, 1902 october 14, 2001 was an american ballet dancer, choreographer and founder of the san francisco ballet and ballet west in salt lake city, utah. Hoffmanns fairy tale, upon which it was based, had long ranked high in the composers estimation, and was the reason for his agreeing to write the ballet the nutcracker. For many, peter tchaikovskys the nutcracker is a holiday tradition that sets the tone for the season. Minus one draws on seven of naharins previous works zachacha, sabotage baby, black milk, passomezzo, anaphaza, queens of golub and mabul to create a single work thats far beyond a collage. Like mcgillis, many utahns have loved ballet wests production of the nutcracker ever since willam christensen first staged it in salt lake. Along with his brothers lew and harold, christensen made history by. He performed in vaudeville with his brothers before joining the. Nutcracker festival presented by historic downtown brigham. Vaudeville performers christensen and his brothers, born and raised in brigham city, spent several years in the 1920s and 1930s on the. Jan 17, 2019 at the time, it was the san francisco opera ballet, a division of the s. This is the story of how nutcracker became a december staple for american ballet companies which it isnt elsewhere in the world.
Vaudeville performers christensen and his brothers, born and raised in brigham city, spent several years in the 1920s and 1930s on the orpheum circuit of. The nutcracker embraces high tech in atlanta vanity fair. To get the real nutcracker experience, you have to go. I do remember positively a ballet west production, by one of the christensen brothers, which i saw on television.
Four years later, with the opera on hard times, william and harold bought the ballet from the opera and renamed it the san francisco ballet. But just what is the right age to introduce a child to this classic ballet. At the onset of world war ii, lew christensen was drafted into the united states army. Christensens nutcracker was first staged in 1944 in san francisco, where the ballet remains an annual tradition, though the production now staged there is not necessarily the christensen version. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.