Stanton Welch framed his new Nutcracker as a coming-of-age story, with a young Clara at the center of his dazzling holiday ballet, now entering its second year.
Houston Ballet is throwing a little holiday get-together, at least that's what it looks like from my seat at the front of the rehearsal room as the company enacts the famous party scene from the Nutcracker.
I've written more Nutcracker stories than should be allowed. Dance writers should have a quota. For a while, disaster stories were all the rage. Tales of a remote control rat going rogue on stage can seriously stir up holiday bluster.