The ballet is based on the dream of a little girl named Clara and her adventures with a nutcracker, a gift from her godfather.
It is choreographed by Johanne Jakhelln Constant, art director of the Moving Art Theatre in Bodo, Norway, who worked with HBSO to premiere the work in 2011.
The play was an instant success and has been presented every Christmas season to meet the demand of the city’s audience.
The two-act work will feature ballet stars, such as Ho Phi Diep (the nutcracker), Do Hoang Khang Ninh (Clara) and Nguyen Phuc Hung (Mr. Drosselmeyer).
Hung, who is also the play’s general director, said, “This time, I made some changes to the decorations, as well as the light effects and stage setup, to enhance the magical and shimmering feeling for the ballet.”
Hung graduated from the Vietnam National College of Dance in 1994, and then studied choreography at the Fontys Dance Academy in the Netherlands and graduated in 2009.
He has staged many dances, such as Dialogue, Dream Puzzles and Touching the Past. He was the Constant’s assistant for The Nutcracker.
He now works as choreographer and scene-setter for all of HBSO’s performances.
Dancers from HBSO Ballet will also perform in the play, while HBSO Female Choir and Symphony Orchestra will play its music score composed by Tchaikovsky under the lead of conductor Tran Nhat Minh.
The ballet’s performances will be at 8pm on December 9, 10 and 11 at the Opera House, 7 Lam Sơn Square in District 1.
