How The Nutcracker Became My Holiday Tradition
by James Sofranko
‘Tis the season….for Nutcracker! Its not the holiday music on the radio or the decorations in the stores that signals the change of season for me, it’s the rehearsals of Nutcracker! As a lifelong dancer, I have never known a holiday season without it. My earliest performing memories are as a party scene boy in Cincinnati Ballet’s Nutcracker, performing at Music Hall downtown with a live orchestra, an experience that I will never forget. This must have made quite an impression on my 8 year old self, because since that time, I figure I have performed in the ballet at least over 500 times. In high school I danced in a shortened version that included just the Act 2 variations, and as a student at Juilliard in New York City, I earned extra money by performing the Snow King and Russian with multiple schools and smaller companies in New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.
When I began my professional career at San Francisco Ballet in 2000, I performed in a Nutcracker by Lew Christensen, one of the famed Christensen brothers who founded San Francisco Ballet in 1940, the first ballet company in America. That company produced the first ever full-length Nutcracker in America in 1944, which was the beginning of the Nutcracker craze. (The Nutcracker does not enjoy anywhere near the same popularity in Europe as it does in America.) Every season that I worked at San Francisco Ballet, we performed Nutcracker about 30-45 times, even on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. In 2004, San Francisco Ballet director Helgi Tomasson choreographed a new version in which I danced in the opening night cast as the Nutcracker doll and the Act 2 Russian dance, which was later filmed for a PBS broadcast and DVD release. I performed these roles (and others) every single season until my retirement from the stage in 2018.
When I first came to visit Grand Rapids, the first production I saw was Val Caniparoli’s Nutcracker. Val is a good friend of mine with roots in San Francisco (he was a dancer under Lew Christensen) so I felt a strong connection to GRB immediately, through Nutcracker. Seeing what a great Nutcracker GRB produced, with designs by Chris Van Allsburg and choreography by Val, demonstrated to me that Grand Rapids Ballet was a world class company, and one that I wanted to lead as Artistic Director. Since retiring from performing, I have found a new joy in coaching the next generation of dancers who bring this beloved production to life every year.
James Sofranko as a Russian Dancer in Lew Christensen’s Nutcracker at San Francisco Ballet
James and his son Jack in Val Caniparoli’s The Nutcracker for Grand Rapids Ballet
But I couldn’t stay away from the stage completely…..in 2023, I began performing the role of Drosselmeier, a type of role we call a “character” role, that doesn’t require the same amount of technique as the full dancing roles. Typically these roles are performed by former dancers, and they appear in numerous classical ballets, such as Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty. Returning to the stage for Nutcracker felt like a homecoming, a welcome back to the tradition that has been ingrained in me since I was a young boy. To make it even more special, for the past two years, my son Jack has performed as a party boy as a student at our Grand Rapids Ballet School, and this year will be performing the role of “Fritz.” To be on stage together with him is such a special opportunity, and a memory that I will cherish forever.
I am so grateful for all of the Nutcrackers that have come before us, from the original by Marius Petipa in 1892 to the thousands of productions that have followed. I am so grateful for Tchaikovsky, who has given us the best Christmas gift, a score that is so magical and timeless that I think it will live forever. I am so grateful that our performances reach over 15,000 people annually, some witnessing a ballet performance for the first time, and many returning year after year. I am so grateful that The Nutcracker provides financial stability to our organization and allows us to present 4 other programs throughout the year, and supports our professional dancers, our school and our outreach programs. Without The Nutcracker, and the audience who comes to enjoy it, we would not be able to be the Grand Rapids Ballet.
I wish you and your family a wonderful and joyous holiday season, and I hope that you enjoy the Nutcracker as much as I do!
James as Drosselmeier in Val Caniparoli’s The Nutcracker for Grand Rapids Ballet
James as the Toyseller in Lew Christensen’s Nutcracker at San Francisco Ballet:
James as a Russian dancer in Helgi Tomasson’s Nutcracker at San Francisco Ballet:
