The Magic Of Tradition and Community
Last season, the Spartanburg Philharmonic and Ballet Spartanburg came together for the first time in 20 years to produce one of the holiday season’s most treasured experiences - the Nutcracker. If you were in the audience for even a single performance last year, you know firsthand how truly magical the experience was. From the exceptional performance of the score by the Philharmonic to the exquisite choreography brought to life by the Ballet Spartanburg corps, each performance wrought a special joy and enduring impression on everyone in the audience. If you didn’t have a chance to join us last season, consider this your personal invitation for this December’s performances.
The 2022 performances will be truly special, as together, we mark 130 years since the first performance of the Nutcracker. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky completed the musical score in 1892 after being commissioned by Russian Imperial Theatres to compose a ballet based on Alexandre Dumas’s adaptation of E.T.A Hoffman’s 1816 story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.” The ballet is a simplified version of the original tale, and all three open with a familiar scene. A family prepares to open their home to a bevy of holiday guests. Family, friends, neighbors, and perhaps even a co-worker or two will soon eat, drink, and dance the evening away. It is a scene that is familiar to us despite being first brought to life so long ago.
It is familiar because it is still very much a part of our Christmas traditions. So many of you reading this have seen the Nutcracker at least once, perhaps even multiple times. But much like the tradition of pulling your well-loved decorations out of storage each holiday season, the Nutcracker story is partly beloved because of its familiarity. Each scene unwraps a little bit more holiday magic while lifting our spirits and readying us for the excitement of the celebrations to follow.
Perhaps one of the reasons the Nutcracker continues to be such a beloved part of the holiday season is because of that familiar opening scene. We can envision ourselves on the stage, dressed in our party clothes, enjoying our favorite seasonal food and drink and the joyful company of our nearest and dearest. Really, it is a scene that could take place in any living room in Spartanburg, but the familiar faces make it particularly vivid. Like a party in your home, the Ballet Spartanburg version of the Nutcracker party scene includes people from your community, people you may already call a friend.
Behind the period clothing and smiles on stage, you’ll find guidance counselors and dance teachers who work in our community’s schools. You may even spot a familiar face from your morning news show. Those talented and precocious children onstage? They’re possibly your neighbor’s grandchildren, members of your church congregation, or even the children of the President of Converse University. Who knows, now that a certain writer’s daughter is old enough to audition, another member of the extended Philharmonic family will be on the stage this December. And last, but never least, is the lively music they are all waltzing and carousing to, respectively. Each note leaps from the pit to the stage from the instruments of longtime members of the Philharmonic. Members who live and work in around Spartanburg, who, when not performing together, can be found teaching a new generation of musicians.
Our community’s support for the production extends backstage as well. Behind the curtains are an army of parents, assisting with hair, makeup, and costumes; corralling the student ballerinas; and quelling their excitement to a frantic whisper. Further backstage are more volunteers from Ballet Spartanburg and the Spartanburg Philharmonic, helping provide lunch for dancers and musicians on the double-show day and intermission snacks to keep energy high. You’ll also find them in the lobby, giving out programs, helping you find your seat, and selling Nutcracker-themed treats and memorabilia. To them, we say thank you - your generosity of time is invaluable.
And last, but certainly never least, is you - our audience. It is genuinely gratifying to welcome friends together whose lives may never intersect outside of attending a performance. Gaity and laughter abound as friends and acquaintances in the lobby and aisles chat and bond over the shared event bringing them together. It is also a special treat to watch the awe and wonder on the faces of the children and grandchildren many of our regular patrons bring with them to these performances.
Much has been said about how music and art enrich a community. It brings people together for a singular, valuable, affirming experience. Nowhere is this more obvious than with the Nutcracker. It is Spartanburg’s most beloved holiday tradition because it is part of this community’s vibrant performing arts fabric. It is created by, starred in, supported by, and for Spartanburg. It is magic, tradition, beautiful dance, and enchanting music in one lovingly wrapped present. It is an experience and a community event that we hope you join us for this December.
