"The Nutcracker" has come to be a hallowed holiday tradition for its grandness, lush Tchaikovsky score and the land of dancing sweets.
What many don't realize is the months of preparation that go into these shows by wardrobe managers, running crew assistants and parent volunteers in addition to the time put in by the dancers and choreographers. Attention is given to the smallest of details and nimble work is required before each show and even between acts.
For instance, dancers playing angels have to be sewn into their costumes every night for Ballet Minnesota's production of "The Classic Nutcracker." And batteries have to be screwed into their electric candles. Nothing is left to chance, said co-founder and artistic director Cheryl Rist.
Zoe Charis, who plays the Snow Queen in the production, recalled the fastest costume change she has ever done with the company. It took all of one minute. That included changing out of a gown with a hoop skirt and removing earrings. In some cases, she has needed two people to help her change, though usually not more than that. "Beyond that, it becomes too many cooks in the kitchen," she said.
Most Minnesotan dance companies feature students in addition to professional ones for the holiday show. This makes it much larger than the other shows done during the year. So, instead of the 20 to 30 costumes that Ballet Co.Laboratory typically uses in its productions, it has 126 for its "Nutcracker in Wonderland," "just because of the sheer volume of people onstage," artistic director Zoe Emilie Henrot said.
While Continental Ballet and Metropolitan Ballet use air fresheners to keep their many delicate ballet costumes odor-free, Twin Cities Ballet and St. Paul Ballet spritz their fabrics with vodka.
A lot of Minnesota Dance Theatre's costumes have been around since the 1970s. Recently retired artistic director Lise Houlton would often take them home after the season's run and wash them herself. "That was my therapy," she said.
Houlton plans to do it again this year. "I somehow oddly kind of find pleasure in doing that," she said.