Candy Cane (Russian) ♥️ Ballet DECONSTRUCTED | New York City Ballet Nutcracker | Kathryn Morgan

[@colleentamblyn1534]

I love when Katie addresses all of us like we're all ballet students even though the extent of my training is Bella Dancerella.

[@kathryn_morgan]

❤️❤️❤️

[@stelladiagoupis7521]

This comment unlocked a part of my childhood

[@bethanneblack]

Katie, I’m always stunned at how much stamina the dancers need for these fast divertissements. I’m also blown away with the height of his jumps! Thanks for the great commentary and video! 🩰

[@kathryn_morgan]

My pleasure! ❤️

[@Julie2116-v6f]

OMG❤ I can t believe that this series is almost done I will miss it so much. Kathryn you are such a hard working and kind Pearson. Huge huge thank you

[@staticsnowfall]

when i was a little girl in ballet school, daniel would always play the cavalier in our yearly nutcracker, with misa kuranaga as the sugar plum fairy. i remember sitting in the wings and watching him perform the tarantella, and being wowed by his jump height and stamina (to the point where i almost ruined my stage makeup because i burst into tears). he’ll always be one of my favorites at nycb 💗

[@lvcarlton]

I always wondered if the change to "Candy Canes" was a Cold War thing...I am partial to the Russian Dance but this made me appreciate "Candy Canes" more.

[@lucyfletcher3752]

I think when Balanchine was choreographing this Nutcracker he was actually choreographing this number for Danny specifically because oh my god Danny kills it in this role 🤣 The landing in fifths while jumping through a hoop is just mind blowing

[@kathryn_morgan]

Totally!

[@ivylin5960]

Great series! Balanchine himself danced the Hoops variation in pre-war Russia, so when the audience sees this, they're actually seeing something that's a direct line to the 1892 original. Anthony Huxley is another Hoop who had incredible hang time.

[@JackieOstick]

Love this so much! Candy Cane is one of my favorite diverts!

[@user-np6wq1tx9c]

I met Daniel Ulbricht on the streets of NYC one day. As Katie said, he is truly the nicest guy and super talented!!! One of my favorite dancers, for sure.

[@mermaidopulence8539]

This is one of my favorite divertissement in Act II from NYCB Nutcracker. I also love their Mother Ginger, can't wait for you to break that down.

[@kerriemckinstry-jett8625]

I have a vague recollection of watching the show ("En pointe"?) and the SAB students were auditioning for the Nutcracker, rehersing it, etc. One girl really wanted "to be in hoops" because she said the lead is a "really amazing hoop" and I'm pretty that's him. To be fair, watching that, yes, I 100% see why a kid would be inspired. 👏👏👏👏

[@kathryn_morgan]

Yes! On Pointe! Unfortunately they took it off of Disney Plus.

[@mariannestoffers5067]

I remember that we had one loop against to the mirror, probably dating back on Anna Pavlova's time, and the messege was: do not stand against the loop. A loop can be cold - but you're not. A loop can be controled - but you're not. A loop - staying a loop - holds on to this loop - is probably a loop. Un- not out to imagine to be doing that "on point" and loose weight only to control the bend of the wheel and then pretend to gain loop. A loop - is a loop.

[@mariannestoffers5067]

Pps we're also going to use this is a weigh and then it's "ton's loop", "tenner-loop" and , by the end "30-degree-loop" (that's the smallest one, or the shortest one, whether shoulder you like or what on the shoulder frame out are preferred.)

[@donburks4464]

these guys are amazing and danny is super talented

[@kathryn_morgan]

Agreed!

[@annlidslot8212]

Hi, I want to thank you for this guided tour of The Nutcracker. Music and dancing didn't feature much when I was growing up, neither is The Nutcracker a thing in my country, so I'm really enjoy seeing what the fuss is about. I'm having so much fun. The closest I can think of, as a woman of a certain age, is that I think the opera house in my city has Peter In Toyland every year to the same music (allegedly, I've never been), but I think the whole house are participating, as I think that the opera chorus are involved too. Some of the house soloists too, maybe. With that I mean not just the dance company and the orchestra, but that it might be a "house production". Not even when I had my lesson at the house did I think to go, so that was a fairly silly thing to not do. Regarding this man's performance, I came to think about if Ehler-Danlos Syndrome more common among ballet dancers than in the general population? Not that I mean this man would have it, I was just reminded of the hyper flexibility that those who have might come to the ballet, where it would make some things easier. I have the same ponderings about gymnasts too. The dancer here, Daniel, he remind me of Gene Kelly. Not in the speed of things but of the shapes he creates with his body. The first one is in the bend at the beginning of the part. I can't say for certain, but Gene Kelly made it either in An American in Paris, somewhere in the long famous pas de deux, or in Singing In The Rain. I also want to say how good the lipstick you're wearing looks on you. If I was someone that know about things like these, I would say that it goes so very well with your complection, but since I don't I'll just keep it at it looks stunning on you. I hope that you are starting to heal from the feeling of burn out, but do take it slow, please. I'd really love to see you have your passion for dancing back, but no rush. The risk of reinjuring your soul again is not negligible if trying too hard. I wish a Merry Christmas to you and yours, and to anyone that has made it this far in the comment, and a Happy New Year to us all. Yours, Ann

[@lilbatz]

Dan jumps/leaps like Baryshnikov. He mastered using his upper body to drive him self up and is never looking down. If you watch Baryshnikov’s Giselle, where he dances for his life, the jumps are insane. He uses his upper body to power himself up. It’s on YT. Dan is a joy to watch 💕☃️🎄

[@kathryn_morgan]

Yes! Absolutely!

[@jeffnelson4175]

Actually, just for an FYI, this was the role Balanchine himself danced in Nutcracker before he left Russia. Alexandra Danilova wrote about it in her autobiography, called "Choura" (a great read, btw}. She wrote he was very good, and always got a positive audience reaction in that role. Cheers!

[@kathryn_morgan]

Love this!

[@jeffnelson4175]

​@@kathryn_morgan I actually got Madame to cross enemy lines over to ABT to give me a coaching session one day back in 1980. She was fabulous, dressed head to toe in Chanel and full of insight into the roles me and my partner were dancing. I got a lot of flack from my classmates about being so bold, but I figured if I waited for permission to do anything, to this day I'd still be waiting! Have a Merry Christmas.

[@marcuravic7683]

Ah the terror of moving to manage this prop…..brings back Christmas time memories/ptsd lol

[@pheart2381]

Thats insane. 😮

[@gassiakradjian7998]

Thanks Katie! Great Deconstruction!

[@wendychampness1901]

The first time my parents brought me, as a young child, to see a ballet live was Nutcracker. It was in the late 1950’s in Los Angeles. I remember that Candy Canes was my favorite! It inspired my life-long love of ballet ❤

[@richardvergara]

As an Asian dancer, Chinese is not offensive. It’s history, it’s context, and it’s fun. And besides…China is attached to Russia. We’re all good. Chinese is awesome choreography. It’s Balanchine. When candy, kids, skinny people, fat people, real women, men, dancers ballet and otherwise, a large puppet women with little people coming out of her skirt start getting offended, I think we’re all good. 😂😂😂😂😂

[@mariannestoffers5067]

I personally don't feel if George Balanchine interpretstion is still as Individual as we where sometimes thought - maybe the thought about George Balanchine into getting Individual for his dancers is super spectation, or super-spicious, only we considered him add part to the ancient ballet ' or infra-structural a part of travelling on ballet, theatre, music and dance. I was an adorer - by spiritual music and dance, but honestly to say... his days are counting back running back to be gone, do on theatre and participate. Even the highest kingdom on dance doesn't want from you to live on all time - or live over the time you've got. A quick changing art item or elements of arts.

[@mariannestoffers5067]

Pps dearest Kathryn (and Co-students) - I don't know if from my English out I was "good enough" - so "chinois" was probably settled somehow indochine and I'm still wondering about how "Larissa" made this dance a present like the little chinese dolls, the ivory that the "chinese king" gave as a present to his portuguese collegue/or roommate: eleven monks plus Macao). Larissa plucking the rice or plucking tea in a big Chinese hat was lovely, and then the flute - the "rory" flute. Gish, almost forget what's beeing in my interrest, or what is the talking about in my comments. Is it - not to ask for racism (whence you see once or come to see a chinese doll or person in a chinese costume picking the rice of the way / or rice plants out of and into the way when she's wanting "tea", and not "a want to tea" (because it's Christmas and the boiling hot water's in the cattle, our boils and breaks from Samowar somwhere else). But I got lost to the story I will have to think about it and write again - whether what are the differences on "racism", or to what's virtual about to this time living on "rice-seasoning" or not. I, personnaly cannot remember "sugar and tea crumble" (probably arabian or that little thing of violin) - "mighty tea " (which is almost cold water) or "theory of the mighty tea" (which includes also Arabian and Chinoise). Thank you for going out super-fast with mr Balanchine (as my priorly ancient fellow student said / and she was into her later 70year old of age: "Balanchine, he comes from Georgia. And his true and authentic name that he was given to by that time it is Balanshivadse". So what? A little cup of tea might as well leave out. Happy holidays, anyway.

[@crystaliclake]

What age / level are the students in candy cane? Thank you for the video!

[@tryingtodobetterotto9616]

Can you do the marzipan shepherdesses?

[@jiperezv]

Fun Fact: Alexander Shiryaev choreographed this solo and documented it in a stop motion sequence. George Balanchine probably remembered it and staged it for his version. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fabZgoyjbcakjpI

[@cheriestl]

I was wondering if you could explain why he changed it to candy cane. I like it better

[@Danny-pd9yb]

Hello

[@elainelee4828]

Bravo! I wonder if he is also an excellent sprinter!? I would not be surprised he is. Fast twitch muscle

[@JGreen-le8xx]

Katie ❤❤❤❤❤❤ 😊

[@mariannestoffers5067]

😂🎉😢how do they jump this fast?? Whatever is in the turn doing it, they do it.

[@Satopi3104]

Second!

[@DestinyHopeLou]

Just wanted to thank you for skipping Chinese. I hate watching it. It‘s so bad and always makes me so uncomfortable. I haven’t seen the updated version but I‘m curious how they changed it.

[@kathryn_morgan]

Absolutely. ❤️

[@GorgieClarissa]

what's wrong with it? is it just the Balanchine version? or all the versions?

[@DestinyHopeLou]

I‘ve never seen a version that wasn’t offensive. It‘s a caricature of Asia. The costumes, the gestures and part of the choreography.

[@crystaliclake]

I think they just removed the wigs and the makeup on the man, and have them not point their fingers ? I thought I saw the newer version online a couple years ago. Some other companies changed it a lot many years ago, in 1995 The National Ballet of Canada changed it to having young students dressed as chefs with stuffed big bellies running up and down stairs chasing chickens and then the chickens chasing them, it’s supposed to be very comical but it’s too bad there’s not much real dancing that celebrates the beauty of the music. Another company changed it to a lion dance, I think that’s a great idea !

[@alexmeza6486]

You would look Hot as Snow Queen Kathryn, or better yet Snow White 😍😍😍

[@photographedemode]

The entire Ballet is racist if you want to take that path.