Beck Center Jazzes Up 'Nutcracker'

This ain’t your Granddad’s Nutcracker.

The ’ Dance Workshop and Dance Education program are re-imagining the timeless Christmas play in “Nutcracker…Jazzed Up!” on Dec. 3 and 4 in the Recital Hall of the Music-Armory Building.

“It’s the original Tchaikovsky score in a modern-day setting,” said Melanie Szucs, the play’s director. “We’ve peppered in some hip hop and jazz to spice it up a little.”

The play will also feature all-original choreography, written by Szucs and other instructors. More than 60 dancers, as young as age 7 and including an adult tap-dancing group, will help bring the choreography to life.

Szucs, who also is the associate director of the Dance Education program, said the dancers will go “on tour” on Dec. 10, to perform the hour-long performance at three Lakewood nursing homes – , Ennis Court and .

“We’ve got a caravan of about 15 moms,” Szucs said. “It’s a real nice way for the kids to give back during the holidays.”

Show times are 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, and 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 4. Adult tickets are $12, and children are $10.