12th Annual
Nutcracker On The Rocks

THREE GUESTS ARTISTS JOIN THE CAST OF KESHET DANCE COMPANY’S
12TH ANNUAL NUTCRACKER ON THE ROCKS

Keshet Dance Company is proud to welcome three guest artists, Vladimir Conde Reche, Maggie Bergeron, and Tanya Call to the cast of its 12th Annual Nutcracker on the Rocks, playing the roles of Nutcracker, Rat Queen and Madame Drosselmeier, respectively.

A native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Vladimir Conde Reche recently moved to Albuquerque to join the dance faculty at the University of New Mexico. Vladimir started dancing at age 17 and at 19 was dancing with Ballet Stagiun in Brazil. One year later he moved to New York City where he received a full scholarship to Juillard. He also received an MFA from the University of Iowa. Conde Reche has performed in England, Germany, Italy, Panama, South Africa, and all over North and South America.

“Vladimir Conde Reche is a vibrant and experienced talent who brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to teaching, choreographing and performing to the University of New and to the Albuquerque dance community at large. Vladimir's vast, cross continental experience in contemporary dance and ballet will enhance the spectrum of dance in New Mexico with his experimental approach to making work and choreographing for young dancers,” says Donna Jewell, UNM’s Head of Dance.

Maggie is returning to Nutcracker on the Rocks after nearly a decade to reprise her role as the Rat Queen, which she performed in Keshet Dance Company’s 1999 production when the cast was merely 32 dancers.  This year’s production is has expanded by nearly 100 additional dancers. Maggie Bergeron is a choreographer, dancer and teacher. She currently choreographs and directs Maggie Bergeron & Company, dances for Shapiro and Smith Dance and is on adjunct faculty at the University of Minnesota’s Dance Program. In 2005 and 2006 Maggie was a Keshet guest choreographer, creating and setting an original works on Keshet’s Professional Repertory Company .

Tanya Call, a former Keshet repertory dancer and teaching faculty, is teaching at the Queen City Ballet and at Allegro School of Dance and Creative Arts Center in Montana. Tanya will reprise the role of Madame Drosselmeier and Erin Crawley-Woods, a current Keshet repertory dancer and teaching faculty, will be performing the role of Marie.

Keshet’s Nutcracker on the Rocks is an original rock-n-roll rendition of the classical holiday tale, incorporating the music of James Brown, Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, and Janis Joplin. It also includes the roaring excitement of a Harley Davidson on stage. The story comes to life with dancers of all ages, experience levels and physical abilities dancing alongside Keshet's professional repertory dancers and guest artists.

Keshet will also host performances during the day for school kids free of charge. Please contact Elsa Menendez at the National Hispanic Cultural Center at 246-2261 for more information.

Gala on the rocks

Enjoy orchestra seating, post show reception with complimentary picture on the Harley and backstage tours available, and much more!

"Keshet’s delightfully different ‘Nutcracker’ a must see…it’s downright wonderful…fresh and powerful…one of the best in the United States…matching thoroughly professional dance with a lot of guts and imagination…Greenberg’s choreography is especially effective and lovely.  It’s magic, of course…magic – and it rocks."

— Ann Ryan, Albuquerque Journal

"Fresh and diverse…The choreography is masterful…This new interpretation is more engaging and fun than the original and, while it’s certainly more current, it’s still appropriate for the entire family. …get your little sugar plum down there and get ready for some action.  You won’t be disappointed."

— Tifanie McQueen, Crosswinds Weekly

Any unmoved spectators had to be dead."

— Arthur Alpert, Prime Time Monthly

"The dancing is elegant in its simplicity.  The rhythm and synergy between the dancers, the music and each other as they flow across the stage from partner to partner is almost spiritual.  It is mesmerizing."

— C.H. Persson-Reeves, Crosswinds Weekly

* Gala on the Rocks follows performance.