Friday, January 3, 2014

This weekend at La MaMa: 'The Shell-Shocked Nut'



From the EVG inbox...

An Alternative Adaptation of The Nutcracker, set in the East Village, inspired by true stories.

Conceived and directed by Martha Tornay, artistic director. East Village Dance Project with choreography and direction by Dante Brown, Victoria Roberts-Wierzbowski, Martha Tornay, Hilary McDaniel-Douglas, Naomi Goldberg-Haas in collaboration with the performers.

Performed by 25 youth performers (age 4-19) from East Village Dance Project,and a group of professional performers, including Dante Brown|Warehouse Dance, Project in Motion, and a host of East Village luminaries and guest artists.

Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Clare Farris, Duke Ellington, Steve Wonder, David Lowery, The Ramones and more…

ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE
"The Shell-Shocked Nut" (premiere) is very loosely based on E.T. Hoffman's "The Nutcracker," set in the East Village, with the urban theme of post-traumatic stress and the joy of being alive. Two main characters: A war vet and an elementary school student travel the familiar streets and locations near Tompkins Square Park and meet characters of all sorts.

BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT
In late October 2012, when SuperStorm Sandy hit Avenue C, there was a need to celebrate something positive. The Avenue C Studio, located at 55 Avenue C between East 4th and East 5th Streets was not flooded inside, but out in the street was chaos ... and the studio lost heat and electricity.

Inspired by requests from some of the young dancers to learn material from "The Nutcracker," East Village Dance Project decided to embark on the process of creating a local version which would be built on the theme of stress and recovery. Using Tchaikovsky’s classic score as a jumping off point, "The Shell-Shocked Nut" reworks the story and choreography to make a uniquely Avenue C style creation. In December 2012, for three days, parents and caregivers came to the studio to see a 35-minute work in progress that was the much needed uplifting of spirits

Jan. 3 at 7 p.m.
Jan. 4 and 5 at 3 p.m.
Ellen Stewart Theatre
66 E. Fourth St., between Second Avenue and Bowery
212-475-7710
Tickets: $20 adults, $15 seniors, students and children 12 and under
More info here

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