On the Town: There was a birthday cake, champagne and a delighted audience at the opening of Nutcracker, CoisCéim's re-interpretation of the classic ballet. The company celebrated its 10th birthday by opening a new production at Project in Dublin.
The story "is about love, unconditional love," said David Bolger, CoisCéim's artistic director and choreographer of the classic coming-of-age story. Tchaikovsky's music "is so sumptuous, it's scary when you are sitting down to choreograph it - it's so known. You try to take ownership of it and use it in a way that people don't expect".
One audience member, ballerina Joanna Banks, performed in the traditional ballet many times. "It's a totally new interpretation," she said afterwards. "It's so completely different. It's very healthy to see a completely different take on it."
"It's very playful and humorous," said Wolfgang Hoffmann, director of the Dublin Fringe Festival and a former dancer.
Ingrid Nachstern, a dancer and choreographer with Night Star Dance Company, said it was "brilliant" and "very inventive". Hughie Hallanan from Whiting Bay, Co Waterford, especially loved the dream sequences.
Nutcracker is in Project until January 22nd, then tours. See www.coisceim.com