Why Ballet Afrique's version of 'The Nutcracker' creates a safe space for Austin kids

Kelsey Bradshaw, Austin American-Statesman
·2 min read
Ballet Afrique's "Duke Ellington's The Nutcracker Suite" on Saturday is set in the 1920s and 1930s during the Harlem Renaissance.
Ballet Afrique's "Duke Ellington's The Nutcracker Suite" on Saturday is set in the 1920s and 1930s during the Harlem Renaissance.
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Ballet Afrique's version of "The Nutcracker" opens with a familiar scene: a family eating soul food and dancing.

"What's so beautiful about that is if you go to any party today in Black communities, that's the exact same thing that's happening now — the young people are teaching the old people how to do (dance)," said China Smith, Ballet Afrique's founder and artistic director.

The dance company will perform "Duke Ellington’s The Nutcracker Suite" on Saturday at Paramount Theatre. Smith wrote a new story to go along with Ellington's jazz versions of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" songs. Smith's story takes place during the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and 1930s.

"When I discovered Duke Ellington had recomposed a lot of Tchaikovsky's pieces, it was a no-brainer," Smith said.

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The production features Austin Woman Magazine CEO Shuronda Robinson as Mother Ginger, Austin Justice Coalition's Chas Moore as the Rat King and Eric Byrd, president of Austin's Black Professional Alliance, as Trombone Charles.

The show is a blend of traditional ballet, contemporary and African dance, Smith said.

China Smith, the founder and artistic director of Ballet Afrique, said doing a new version of "The Nutcracker" was a no-brainer after she discovered Duke Ellington's jazz renditions of the classical songs.
China Smith, the founder and artistic director of Ballet Afrique, said doing a new version of "The Nutcracker" was a no-brainer after she discovered Duke Ellington's jazz renditions of the classical songs.

Smith picked the 1920s for the company's show, in part, to help the Austin community understand the relevance of Black art and culture. She also asks what happens if Black arts and culture are not cultivated.

This year will be the dance company's fifth doing its own version of "The Nutcracker," and Smith is proud of creating a space for children to access ballet and other types of dance.

"The more I do this thing, I realize how important what it is what I'm doing," Smith said.

If children have access to historically inaccessible forms of art like ballet, they're more likely to want to participate in it, she said.

This is the dance company's fifth year doing its own version of "The Nutcracker."
This is the dance company's fifth year doing its own version of "The Nutcracker."

Smith sees the company's annual "Nutcracker" performance growing beyond Paramount Theatre and hopefully to Bass Concert Hall. She also wants to be able to offer students a chance to see the performance in the coming years.

"This is my way of having a little moment to say, 'Hey Austin, we are here and we are creative and we deserve to be funded and we deserve spaces that we fit in,'" Smith said.

If you go

When: Saturday, Jan. 6, at 7 p.m.

Where: Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave.

Tickets: Tickets start at $39 and can be purchased at: austintheatre.org.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Ballet Afrique brings 'The Nutcracker' to Austin's Paramount Theatre