Not the same 'Nut'

By SUSAN MARGOSHES
The Philadelphia Inquirer
December 25, 2003

Tanya Barrientos, ("Nutcracker needs to kick it up," Dec. 20) should widen her scope beyond the conventional dance scene in Philadelphia. ContempraDance Theatre, a nonprofit professional dance company headquartered in Wayne, performed a hilarious takeoff on the traditional Nutcracker ballet titled the Philly-Nutt-Crak-Up at the Painted Bride Art Center.

This performance would have fulfilled Barrientos' wishes with an updated story line and a combination of traditional, modern and hip-hop styles brought to the stage by an excellent cast of professional dancers.

Choreographers such as Gail Vartanian, the artistic director/choreographer of Contempradance Theatre, are not satisfied with the conventional. I am suggesting that you take up a notch your endeavors to find alternatives to the usual offerings. Such coverage might even expand the audience for dance in the city.