The Alexandria Community Dancers collaborated with the West Potomac Academy dancers to perform the Nutcracker from December 1 to 4.

The Alexandria Community Dancers brought a wide variety of performers. I was surprised to see little children as young as three or four on stage. It was very satisfying to see the group of children being able to coordinate themselves. They brought a lot of warmth to this winter classic.

It was interesting to see a rendition of the traditional Nutcracker with a small modern twist. Although I do prefer Tchaikovsky over more beat-heavy music, there were many different dancing styles that were presented rather than just ballet. The Nutcracker featured jazz, modern, pointe, and gymnastic types of dancing. The individual performances were definitely a highlight.

My favorite part of the play was the battle between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King. This was the most thought out, most detailed scene. Details such as the Mouse King’s mice surrounding the main character and the Nutcracker’s army robotic marching really caught my attention. The Nutcracker and Mouse King seemed to move together almost flawlessly.

I would recommend this play to people who wouldn’t mind the modern additions to the Nutcracker. It caught me by surprise, but I think this play suits young girls and boys well.