Principal Artist Yosvani Ramos talks about the particular pleasures of Graeme Murphy’s Nutcracker – The Story of Clara
Being with English National Ballet for nine years, I did The Nutcracker every Christmas for almost a decade. It’s a big tradition in England, and even though I did two different productions in the course of those nine years, they were both pretty traditional. That’s why I’m so excited about performing in Graeme Murphy’s version. It’s completely different to any of the Nutcrackers I’ve danced before. Instead of dancing the standard Sugar Plum Prince, in this version I’m taking on the role of the Doctor/Solider/Lover. It’s fantastic, because the doctor is a very normal person, very human, but then you become the Soldier/Lover, which is much more balletic. There’s such a contrast.
Janet [Vernon] and Graeme really want the doctor to walk and act like a normal person. Funnily enough, I find this really hard because I’m used to walking on stage like a dancer – I will get it before the show!
The other thing that I love about Graeme’s production is the Australian flavour and of course the beautiful pas de deuxs. I’m suffering a bit at the moment because there’s some really tricky lifts, but rehearsals with Graeme and Janet have been great. They know what they want, and they know how to get it from you, but always in the nicest way so you want to give them your best. I’m really looking forward to the shows next week. It’s been hard rehearsing Nutcracker during the day and performing Firebird and other legends at night, but now Firebird has closed, I say bring on Nuts!
Graeme Murphy’s Nutcracker – The Story of Clara opens in Sydney on 28 April and plays at the Opera House until 18 May. It then goes to Melbourne from 5-18 June
I like this little Behind Ballet enterprise (athough I find the youtube stuff and its accompanying text a bit below the Australian Ballet). Great to hear Yosvani’s thoughts on Nutcracker- I think he did a great job in Sylphides this season. I haven’t seen Greame Murphy’s production before and I’m looking forward to it. Now I won’t have to buy the DVD!!
Yosvani lights up the stage whenever he appears and “Nutcracker” is no exception.Of the 3 casts I have so far seen he and Leanne Stojmenov/Marc Cassidy were by far the outstanding ones. There was so much chemistry between Yosvani and Leanne. These 2 dancers know how to project both their personalities and a character deep into the auditorium. And the “Nutcracker” pas de deux which over many years I had come to believe could never look quite right was simply sensational as danced by Leanne and Marc. The only other time I have see it being brought of as well was by Trinidad Sevillano and her partner when she was guesting some years ago.