‘The Hip Hop Nutcracker’ Springs to Life at Benedum Center (Tues., 12/17/24)

THE HIP HOP NUTCRACKER (dance) by Jennifer Weber and Mike Fitelson. National touring company at Benedum Center. December 17 only, at 7:30 p.m. 

‘The Hip Hop Nutcracker’ at the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust will have you doing a holiday handstand too. (Photo: Timothy Norris)

Flash back to 1983 and the movie Flashdance, filmed in Pittsburgh: An aspiring young dancer nails her audition at a classical dance academy by incorporating b-boy moves she’s seen on the street. Fantasy predicts reality. Now our city is visited by the touring production of The Hip Hop Nutcracker.  Here we have real, world-class b-boys and b-girls dancing the popular Christmas tale to the beats of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet music, augmented by new sounds from DJ Boo. The show was conceived by Mike Fitelson, executive producer at the United Palace theater in New York’s Washington Heights, and choreographer Jennifer Weber of Brooklyn-based Decadancetheatre. Dancing the role of The Nutcracker is Ryan Nebreja, and the VIP MC for the show is Kurtis Blow. The Hip Hop Nutcracker might be the season’s sleeper hit, so if you’re hip, hop on some good seats before they’re gone. Part of the Dentons Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents Series. 7:30 p.m. at Benedum Center, 237 7th St., Cultural District. (M.V.)

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