Hartford Symphony Orchestra & Nutmeg Ballet Collaboration Creates Engaging Night Of Music

After intermission we heard the Sleeping Beauty Suite, Op. 66a, by Tchaikovsky with ballet dancers from the Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory. Prior to the performance we met artistic director Victoria Mazzarelli and principal ballet master Tim Melady, and they helped us understand how the dancers approached the challenges of this performance. The ballet dancers gave us a sneak preview of some elements of the ballet and this helped us connect with them. We also had the opportunity to hear from the dancers of the Full Force Ensemble, who returned to explain how their movements, inspired by the Modern Dance movement, differed from ballet motions. After seeing some of their steps in isolation, we heard a few brief passages of the Saint-Saëns a second time with dance and orchestral accompaniment. Then the evening closed with a performance of the Sleeping Beauty Suite.

The suite had five movements and three of them featured ballet dancers. The second movement became the “Rose Adagio,” the third movement pas de caractère became the fairy tale of “Puss-in-Boots and the White Cat,” and the final movement became the “Garland Waltz,” featuring the full ensemble of four male and eight female dancers.

The audience was blown away. The concept was refreshingly different from what symphonic concert audiences have come to expect, and it was great fun. All of the dancers were so professional, elegant and disciplined that it was easy to become inspired by their dedication and their art. Kuan excels at imagining, coordinating and actualizing collaborative programs, and this one was special.