IU Ballet captures magic

This weekend, IU's ballet dancers captured that magical combination of elegance and fantasy that makes "The Nutcracker" worth going back to year after year. \nTransported back to 19th century Germany, the audience was swept into the whirl of Christmas excitement at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Silberhaus. Classy guests intermingled while children caroused in petticoats and curls. The mysterious Dr. Drosselmeyer, played by Christopher Brian Natchtrab, enchanted the crowd with his mechanical dolls and even made Grandma's little dog roll over.\nJenna Wolf and Michael Bush really made the first act come alive, embracing their roles as spoiled, excited children, Clara and Fritz. Jenna is a very talented young dancer and was cast well as the heroine. \nI always enjoy a good fight, and the battle scene was not disappointing, even if the audience was practically choking on smoke from the flash pots. One of the things that makes IU's "Nutcracker" so great to watch is seeing choreographer Jacques Cesbron's sense of humor in the way he gives the dancers some liberty in their character roles. The bumbling and flailing mice were lead by Mouse King, Jermaine Miles. His towering presence provided the perfect mixture of nightmare and comedy. Little Jenna Wolf really looked like she would get trampled for a while, running around in her white nightgown.\nDavid Higgins' whimsical sets captured the pristine beauty of a snowy night, and Sara Wroth and David Levy performed beautifully as Snow Queen and King. The snow scene looked a little slippery, however, and formations looked unbalanced at times.\nHighlights from the second act included Lydia Haug's seductive Arabian snake role with charmer Joshoa Sutton. Like the deadly venom of a cobra, Lydia's undulating intensity is untouchable. \nThe children in the Chinese Dance did gymnastic flips and tricks, and Mother Ginger, played by Jackson Ross Best, Jr., seemed more into hamming up the act than relating to the kids, busting out moves never before seen in a hoop skirt. \nMaliwan Diemer was another strong performer as Dew Drop Fairy in Waltz of the Flowers. It is clear that she loves the stage. While there were many good dancers in Waltz of the Flowers, the choreography did not do them justice. It would have been nice to see some more clear, classical formations in addition to the willowy waltzing and running.\nThe icing on the cake is always the Sugarplum Fairy. Sarah Smith and Stephan Calka, Sugarplum and Cavalier, had big shoes to fill on Sunday's performance. Their roles had been danced the previous two nights by internationally famous guest artists, Julie Kent and Angel Corella from American Ballet Theater, and on Saturday matinee by Jennifer Moll. \nSarah Smith sparkled in the role and executed the demanding choreography with strength and precision. Her generous spirit shone through each movement. Stefan Calka's confident performance (not to mention his incredibly high cabrioles) made him a perfect cavalier, proving that IU's ballet dancers can command the stage like seasoned professionals. \nOverall, Sunday's show was a sold-out success. The music, sets, and dancing really take you to another time and place of childhood fantasies and dreams. Each character in "The Nutcracker" has such a distinct role and it was fun to watch the dancers portray these roles with spunk and integrity.