You're right that most of this piece is not "genius." Most of Mark's work, however, is. This is considered his most accessable, so people talk about it as if they were talking about his other work. That said, his walz of the snowflakes is one of the most creative and joyous six minutes of dance I've ever seen. Having the snow come from the dancers adds such power and life that you can actually feel the snowstorm, and the final calm where it slowly poors from their hands is just breathtaking.
I've also wondered why this work is considered to be genius. After having seen it three times, it occurred to me that in making the ballet accessible to everyone via popular imagery, it's erased the elitist element of ballet. By integrating elements of so many cultures, and then so many social possibilities, it's a much broader comment on people and the times. It's genius by not having to appear out of reach.
i don't follow dance that much and am not really big on ballet either...the music but not the dancing. But i saw a bit of The Hard Nut on PBS and it was so intriguing...i only saw the Waltz of the Flowers. I loved it...it was hilarious and so graceful at the same time. Beautiful. And the costumes were fabulous!
I also saw this when PBS showed it YEARS ago and the dance of the snowflakes has stuck in my head all that time. Mark Morris is wonderful. The Hart Nut is now available on dvd.
The 1992 production filmed for PBS is on OvationTV this holiday season, part of a 'Battle of the Nutcrackers' series. Vote for your favorite Nutcracker.
unabashed brilliance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
airbloit 1 month ago
One of the best performance I ever saw .... incredible
pdumoulin6655 1 year ago 2
I saw it this pass christmas. I was shocked. my favorite was the Snowflake dance where the dancers were men and women. Loved it.
dawnye1 2 years ago 2
The best "snow" ever. Ever!
GariGold 2 years ago
I just saw it last nite it was hilarious but also kind of weird......
Pokemonlover8 2 years ago
just saw it live after growing up on the video production! LOVED it!
victrymueller 2 years ago
I'm seeing this TOMORROW!!!!
QiheartuQ 2 years ago
i just saw it tonite.. it was hilarious.
veramentegina 2 years ago
They'll be performing at Cal Berkeley this Holiday season! I can hardly wait! WHOOOO HOOOOO!!!
bisnagaboy 2 years ago
This was one of the best pieces of dance i had ever seen and I really think Mark Morris is an astounding artist.... along with Michael Clark.
DannieLu1975 2 years ago
This looks astounding. What luck it's on Netflix. *adds immediately*
HorrorFrogPrincess 2 years ago
You're right that most of this piece is not "genius." Most of Mark's work, however, is. This is considered his most accessable, so people talk about it as if they were talking about his other work. That said, his walz of the snowflakes is one of the most creative and joyous six minutes of dance I've ever seen. Having the snow come from the dancers adds such power and life that you can actually feel the snowstorm, and the final calm where it slowly poors from their hands is just breathtaking.
jcoar 3 years ago
I've also wondered why this work is considered to be genius. After having seen it three times, it occurred to me that in making the ballet accessible to everyone via popular imagery, it's erased the elitist element of ballet. By integrating elements of so many cultures, and then so many social possibilities, it's a much broader comment on people and the times. It's genius by not having to appear out of reach.
lleichele 4 years ago
i don't follow dance that much and am not really big on ballet either...the music but not the dancing. But i saw a bit of The Hard Nut on PBS and it was so intriguing...i only saw the Waltz of the Flowers. I loved it...it was hilarious and so graceful at the same time. Beautiful. And the costumes were fabulous!
imajeepster 4 years ago
I also saw this when PBS showed it YEARS ago and the dance of the snowflakes has stuck in my head all that time. Mark Morris is wonderful. The Hart Nut is now available on dvd.
MichelleLuvsNYC 4 years ago
I saw this PBS production ONCE probably 15 years ago and only with YOUTUBE did I think to 'google' it.
Thank you for makingsuch a wonderfully personal open glimpse into genius.
I'm amazed to find that what I had thought was an obscure..almost underground, production.......Oh well time stopped when I left San Francisco.
geobushono1 4 years ago
I'm gonna see THE HARD NUT again on 12/16/07 at Cal! I can't wait! It is AWESOME!
bisnagaboy 4 years ago
Wait wait wait, which "Cal"? I want to see it live, too! I love this production.
Kamakiriad66 4 years ago
The 1992 production filmed for PBS is on OvationTV this holiday season, part of a 'Battle of the Nutcrackers' series. Vote for your favorite Nutcracker.
apworldny 4 years ago
I have to agree - I saw it last year, and when I thought about it just today it brought tears to my eyes. Just unbelievable.
nailosity 4 years ago
Thank you for posting. Morris' snow scene is the best I have ever seen (and I have seen one too many).
3dancers 4 years ago