By Susan Lin
Ohman, who is artistic director and founder of the New York Dance Theatre in Commack, has set his holiday ballet at the John Cranford Adams Playhouse of Hofstra University in Hempstead. Eight runs of "The Nutcracker" will go on there from Saturday, Dec. 15, to Sunday, Dec. 23.
Between 1962 to 1984, Ohman had soloed as the little girl Marie's father for "George Balanchine's The Nutcracker (sm)" the service-marked version of the ballet at Lincoln Center.
Besides playing Marie's father, Ohman also played the role of Mouse King, Mother Ginger, and Lead Spanish in "The Nutcracker."
Everyday as a member of the New York City Ballet, Ohman had studied under the legendary choreographer Balanchine. "No one else can do the version I do because I was with the New York City Ballet as a soloist," said Ohman, 62.
George Balanchine (1904-1983)'s choreography of "The Nutcracker," which debuted in 1954 at the state theater in Lincoln Center, is what popularized the holiday ballet in America.
The original Nutcracker, choreographed in Russia by Marius Petipa, was already a hit in Russia, since the ballet's debut in 1892, before Balanchine hit the jackpot in America with his re-creation.
Modeled after the style of the ballet master he studied under, Ohman's "The Nutcracker" is Balanchine in almost every detail, from its storyline to its choreography to its sets and costumes.
"Frank Ohman just passed on word for word the whole Balanchine tradition," said dancer Nicole Loizides, 25, who will play the Sugar Plum Fairy at Hofstra.
About playing the character, "It's a very 'stereotypical' ballet role. When you're very young, you think of pink tutu, you think of being on your toes. She's a very delicate queen, who's very accepting and very gentle with her kingdom. That might sound weird, but in classical ballet, to me, it's always about a different world when you're on stage," said Loizides.
Some say Balanchine's "The Nutcracker" is very family-oriented, and not as 'hard' as the original Russian versions. That quality is also evident in Ohman's version of the ballet, which features many routines choreographed to be danced by children.
In Ohman's, the cast has 60 children compared to just 20 adults.
"It does seem a little bit cold if you have all older dancers. To me, that's not as heartwarming," said Loizides, who said she is also partial to the Balanchine tradition.
Other signature Balanchine characteristics is in the Dew Drop Fairy waltz. Balanchine was strict about having only women dance in that scene, in which the lead fairy is accompanied by flower-dancers.
"Balanchine just envisioned it as very, very feminine -- the Dew Drop Fairy surrounded by all the flowers. Many versions have men and women, which is lovely, it's just different," said Argere Loizides, manager of the New York Dance Theatre, and mother of Nicole Loizides.
Additionally, in a scene called "The Russian Trepak," the Russian Nutcracker has a traditionally dressed man do the dance. Balanchine changed the man into a striped candy cane.
"It's a family event," said Loizides.
At a Glance
'The Nutcracker'
from the New York Dance Theatre
2 & 7 p.m. Saturdays, Dec. 15 & 22
2 & 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16
8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21
2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23
John Cranford Adams Playhouse
Hofstra University
Hempstead
NYDT Box Office: (631) 462-0964
$28; $22 seniors/children; $30 first 10 rows
