The Hip-Hop Nutcracker

Keller Auditorium
222 SW Clay Portland

This is not the holiday classic of your grandmother's childhood. The Hip Hop Nutcracker re-imagines Tchaikovsky's classic score, swapping out pas de duex and releve for head-spins and windmills. Instead of pointe shoes, these Sugarplums are lacing up their high-top sneakers and they'll be poppin' and lockin' their way into Portland. A dozen all-star dancers from Brooklyn-based theatrical hip-hop dance company Decadancetheatre, an on-stage DJ and an electric violinist bring the beloved story to life in a modern-day New York City setting. In addition to some explosive hip-hop choreography bounding across the Keller Auditorium stage, this merry mash-up also features an appearance by one of hip-hop's pillars: Kurtis Blow. The rap icon's early-'80s hit "Christmas Rappin'" took caroling to da club, so he's the perfect guest star to tie a bow around this holiday hybrid.