A menagerie of local fauna pirouetted their way into the hearts of audiences at several productions of Nutcracker on the Indian River, presented by Ballet Vero Beach. This year’s delightful ballet took place at Tree House Vero Beach just days before visits from Santa.
“This sprung out of us continuing to be flexible and continuing to think outside a brick-and-mortar theater setting,” said Adam Schnell, BVB artistic director/CEO. “It bridges the gap between the film last year and hopefully getting back to the full production in the theater next year.”
The December 2020 filmed version of Nutcracker on the Indian River was shot outdoors in a location similar to the one where the original BVB version of the beloved holiday classic takes place.
With COVID still lurking in our midst, Schnell decided to present an outdoor, in-person version, by collaborating with Tree House proprietors Pam and Jake Hund. The wedding and events venue, located not too far from where the ballet was filmed last year, was the perfect backdrop for the truly immersive experience.
Schnell said he asks himself with each new production what they can do with their art to make the community a better place.
“We’re not trying to be New York City Ballet. We are trying to do stuff that is credible for our town and resonates with what our town is about,” he said.
“Being able to bring dancing manatees to life, that people might see as they’re driving past the power plant, is a gift. Here, we don’t have to have some preconceived notion of what we have to be. We are fortunate to stand on the shoulders of the larger institutions and individual artists that have been making Vero such an arts mecca for so long,” he added.
To enhance the experience, Schnell said that between shows, the Indian River Land Trust offered nature tours to the adjacent Toni Robinson Waterfront Trail.
“The production is supposed to inspire people to think about the lagoon and the environment differently,” he explained.
The story takes place on Christmas Eve in 1919, with young Marie Stahlbaum in her family’s New York City home, reading a letter from her uncle in Vero Beach. Marie’s imagination takes over as she envisions the cast of lagoon characters described in the letter.
Among them are dancing gopher tortoises, a bobcat and river otter, sandpipers, sandhill cranes, land crabs, manatees, sea turtles and pelicans. Vibrant bougainvillea, waves and Mother Mangrove make appearances as well.
The first showing was designated as Nutcracker for All through BVB’s Ticket Donation program. It’s a guiding tenet of the organization to be an accessible arts group, partnering with area nonprofits to offer free arts experiences to those who would not otherwise have access.
The company provides educational enrichment and free performance tickets to 17 local nonprofits that assist everyone from children and families to the homeless and veterans. The troupe also offers free student matinee performances for grades one through four, individuals with differing abilities and families with young children. It also promotes early literacy through a partnership with the Learning Alliance.
Nutcracker on the Indian River will be available for viewing online and on TV-30 through Jan. 9. Visit the website for a complete schedule of free broadcasts and streaming options.
The Ballet Vero Beach 2021-2022 Season opens with in-person performances Jan. 14 and Jan. 15 of Franco-American, an eclectic celebration of French and American influence, at the Vero Beach High School Performing Arts Center, and film access from Jan. 21 to Feb. 6. An inaugural Ballet Under the Stars fundraiser will take place April 22 at Tree House Vero Beach.
For more information, visit balletverobeach.org.
Photos by Kaila Jones
