Urban Nutcracker opens for its 19th season

BOSTON — After months of rehearsals, Urban Nutcracker opened Thursday at the Shubert Theater.

Described as a multi-cultural celebration of Boston, Urban Nutcracker is a fresh take on the classic ballet. It mixes different types of music and different styles of dance.

Thursday marks the 19th season of the show.

“All dance forms are finding new ways to merge and influence each other,” dancer Betsy Khalil said. “So to have a show like this in Boston that’s really showing that on a stage is great.”

At 13, Abraham Coumbassa is a veteran of the show. This is his fifth year performing it.

"It’s a lot more free, fun, modern, cause it’s set in the city today," Coumbassa said. "It's less nerve-racking than it was, say, your first year, and it just becomes more fun."

From Duke Ellington to Tchaikovsky, the show is a fusion of hip hop, tap, ethnic dances and, of course, classic ballet.

We sat down with creator Tony Williams during rehearsals at his studio.

The first African-American principal dancer for the Boston Ballet, Williams' mission is encouraging diversity through the arts.

"I love the prologue. It’s the very first thing that happens and that’s where a lot of the hip hop and tap comes out," Khalil said. "There’s a lot of kids in that scene. Everyone's very excited. And the kids are cheering each other on while they’re on stage."

She has been with William's Ballet Company City Ballet for two years.

Every year the show changes and this year, a scene inspired by the famous Make Way for Ducklings story featured in the Boston Common is all new for 2019.

Urban Nutcracker

December 19 - 28

Shubert Theatre

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