Dance Reviews : Radojevic Lends Charm to ‘The Nutcracker’

In its Thursday performance of “The Nutcracker” in Shrine Auditorium, American Ballet Theatre welcomed back former principal dancer Danilo Radojevic, who last appeared with the company during the Spring ’86 season at the Metropolitan Opera House.

Now billed as a guest artist, the diminutive Australian danced the title role with the charm, technical brilliance and partnering skill characteristic of his best performances in the past. Perhaps his oomph-quotient seemed a little low, but the pressures of returning to a highly demanding role--and of dancing with a new partner in this ballet--justified some caution.

As Clara, Amanda McKerrow displayed her usual lyric purity (though she proved off form in her Act II solo)--but the big problem with her interpretation remained histrionic. Indeed, McKerrow avoided, generalized or faked all the major acting challenges--and if Clara doesn’t become emotionally involved in her dream, the whole production suffers.

Raymond Serrano contributed a dashing, multifaceted portrayal of Drosselmeyer--though his implacable pursuit of Clara in the last-act trio seemed out-of-character.

In the divertissement , Lucette Katerndahl and Jeremy Collins suavely dispatched the Shepherds’ duet. Robert Wallace and (especially) Wes Chapman brought elegance as well as verve to the Russian Dance. Dana Stackpole and John Gardner lent maximum flamboyance to the Chinese Dance.