Traversing synchronously a single lifetime, A Nutcracker: Part I reinvented a classic narrative for a contemporary audience of all ages, inviting them to wander freely and explore a dreamlike world in which the breadth of life’s manifold emotions and experiences harmoniously coexist.

Choreographed by Katie Rose McLaughlin and directed by Joshua William Gelb, “A Nutcracker” used Tchaikovsky’s music to depict the life story of a woman (and dancer) named Clara.
In this new adaptation, Clara’s childhood, young adulthood, middle and old age appeared simultaneously, accompanied by live musicians in a playful yet poignant exploration of coming-of-age-stories bookended by tragic death, of leaving things unsaid, and of loved ones left behind.

A Nutcracker: Part I was created by:
Choreographer: Katie Rose McLaughlin
Director: Joshua William Gelb
Music Director: Ian Axness
Story: Dan O’Neil
Lighting Design: Josh Smith
Set Designer: Sara C. Walsh
Costume Design: Diego Montoya
Sound Design: Gavin Price
Assistant Choreographer: Mary Kate Sickel
Featuring: Valda Setterfield, Lisa Lockwood, Gary Chryst, Kaitlyn Gilliland, Pierre Guilbault and introducing Louisa Blakely

Presented in October, 2014, “Debut” is the second evening length work commissioned by the Knockdown center created by Emily Terndrup and Derrick Belcham. “Debut” merged together independent music, contemporary dance theater and a large-scale art installation to tell the story of a group of teenagers as they broke into an abandoned building on the evening of their senior prom. Terndrup and Belcham developed a shifting landscape in which audience may follow a narrative of their choosing.

“Debut” featured original music performed live by Julianna Barwick, Mauro Remiddi (Porcelain Raft), Ruby Kato Attwood and John Ancheta, David Moore (Bing & Ruth), Jessie Stein (The Luyas), Hannah Epperson and Reed Smidebush (Muuny).

See more of the work of Derrick Belcham and Emily Turndrup.

See selected moments from Debut on Vimeo.