DANCE REVIEWS : LACB ‘Nutcracker’ Gets the Recipe Right

If “Nutcrackers” were fast food--and at this time of year it sometimes seems they are--Los Angeles Classical Ballet could claim that the popularity of its version rests on the choreographers’ secret recipe. Launching the company’s “Nutcracker” season Friday night at the Long Beach Convention Center, LACB knows what traditional ingredients to mix in--all of them. This means sugar and spice and great special effects--without losing emphasis on classical dancing.

Choreographers David Wilcox and Terri Lewis keep the first act party scene lively with difficult doll dances (well done by Kristin Douglas, Edward Cueto and Kristopher Jones) and a focus on Clara that highlighted young Melissa Watson’s beautiful placement and ease on pointe. Personalities can also make “Nutcracker” cook: In the Snow pas de deux, Mayumi Hanabusa and Aidar Akhmetov blended graceful athleticism with glittering enthusiasm. In the second act, Yan Lin stood out in a strongly simmering Arabian Dance, and Lisa Cueto was a willowy chief Mirliton.

Under the direction of Roger Hickman, the LACB Orchestra was wonderfully crisp, light and dramatic by turns, but had some balance problems during the grand pas de deux.

Danced by Lilia Mousavarova and Anton Labuschagne, this was the most disappointing moment choreographically as well, depending on an excess of sweeping poses instead of steps that link the couple to the majesty of the music.