Turning traditional ballet on its head, Anthony Williams’ Urban Nutcracker incorporates jazz, tap, hip-hop, flamenco and a wealth of other styles, featuring skilled performers from diverse backgrounds. Yet it is also true to tradition, featuring brilliant performances of artistic excellence to introduce the beauty of ballet to new audiences that might otherwise never experience it.
In collaboration with City Ballet of Boston, Northern Light Productions filmed three performances at Boston’s Shubert Theatre to edit this 90-minute television special. It aired on 211 PBS channels across 33 states during the holiday season, including many primetime broadcasts.
In a companion piece, Beyond the Stage: The Urban Nutcracker demonstrates the power of the arts to celebrate and uplift our multi-cultural community. With behind-the-scenes footage of rehearsals and interviews with the artists and collaborators who worked with Anthony Williams over the years, this documentary short demonstrates the important role the arts play in empowering youth and shaping identity.
