DANCE & MUSIC REVIEWS : Ballet Pacifica Rebounds With a New ‘Nutcracker’

Rebounding from the trauma of losing all its sets and costumes--31 years worth--in the Laguna Beach fire in October, Ballet Pacifica unveiled a new, handsome-looking and completely traditional production of “The Nutcracker” Thursday at Cal State Los Angeles--with a little help from some friends.

The notable South Coast Repertory team of Cliff Faulkner and Shigeru Yaji created, respectively, attractive, ingenious unit-set pieces and sumptuous-looking gowns for the Christmas party.

The Sacramento Ballet loaned glittery, silvery Romantic tutus for the Snow Scene and rich-hued costumes for the Waltz of the Flowers. The Aman International Folk Ensemble loaned authentic Russian costumes for the Trepak. Other contributions came from Fresno, Florida and New York (American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet and New York City Ballet).

What they didn’t loan were some fully professional dancers.

Dancing, said the great New York City Ballet principal Edward Villella in one of his famous telecasts, is what happens between the poses. That is one useful way of demarcating a difference between a professional and a regional company such as Ballet Pacifica.

These plucky company members, whose capabilities ranged markedly, exerted conscientious effort and worked hard, at probably the worst of times for them. Still, they rarely sustained a dance or movement impulse, though, admittedly, they had to dance to some fast-paced, at times insensitive recorded accompaniment.

Kelly Leonardi was the Sugar Plum Fairy; her Cavalier was James Cameron, who was also the Nutcracker Prince.

Sonja Higley and Sandt Litchfield danced the Snow Queen and Snow King, respectively. The young Rebecca Baumbach was Clara. The stout Mario Lescot enacted an ambiguously, strange and unfocused Drosselmeyer.

Most of the choreography was by artistic director Molly Lynch, who did not meddle with tradition at all. Other contributions came from two company members, a free-lance choreographer, and Ivanov/Sergeyev.

The new production, the first-ever “Nutcracker” at Cal State L.A., according to a university official, continues there today and Sunday. It will move to the Moulton Theatre in Laguna Beach to run Dec. 16-23. There are several sets of principal dancers.