DANCE REVIEW : GIL BOGGS MAKES DEBUT AS ‘NUTCRACKER’ PRINCE

Gil Boggs has been dancing very well and often during the current American Ballet Theatre “Nutcracker” season in Southern California--in the Chinese, Russian and Shepherd duets, besides the kiddie role of Fritz.

Tuesday afternoon in Shrine Auditorium, the 26-year-old soloist made his debut as the Nutcracker Prince--his first full-length part with the company. While frequently tentative in attack or unfinished in detail, his dancing confirmed a growing mastery of elegant placement, refined port de bras and clear, steady articulation of steps.

The heroic battle bravura may have been dispatched overcautiously but, immediately afterward, Boggs’ unusually shy ardor helped give the post-transformation duet with Clara (Cheryl Yeager) the charm of adolescent first love. No pro forma classicism here.

Though his elevation was never remarkable, Boggs looked overtaxed by the assignment only in the partnering challenges, for even at his most conscientious, his ability to support and, especially, to lift never seemed second-nature or even particularly secure.

But, overall, his performance was one of notable promise--marked by freshness, warmth, sincerity and (in his solos) effortless technical control.

Besides Boggs, the Tuesday matinee “Nutcracker” featured principals familiar from previous local performances. Paul Connelly again conducted.