Dance Reviews : Joffrey’s New Casting for ‘Nutcracker’

To Joffrey Ballet fans, the Friday matinee “Nutcracker” at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion offered a peek at the future: promising young dancers cast in the major roles for the first time in Los Angeles.

Certainly, the remarkable speed, lightness and precision that Harald Kern revealed as the Snow Prince and in the Tea divertissement made him a likely heir to the company’s power-jumper roles passed from Gary Chryst to Mark Goldweber to the late Edward Stierle. . . .

Another discovery: Jenny Sandler, memorably pliant in the Arabian duet opposite the previously reviewed Pierre Lockett.

Deborah Dawn projected generalized graciousness as the Sugar Plum Fairy and though her dancing remained impeccable, it, too, lacked an individual statement or dimension. Similarly, Valerie Madonia danced with faultless authority as the Snow Queen, but involvement with her partner and music stayed minimal.

As Drosselmeyer’s Nephew and the Nutcracker Prince, Scott Jovovich had a disarming warmth and sweetness--but lacked the security of placement and partnering ease to give his dancing the same distinction as his acting. However, Adam Sklute looked very happy and accomplished as the Snow King and in the Waltz of the Flowers.