‘Nutcracker’ comes out of its shell

The tutus are decidedly un-stiff, and definitely not pink. And the pointe shoes? There are no pointe shoes.

December may be the month when nightie-clad Claras usually pirouette to the harp arpeggios of “The Nutcracker,” but Deborah Brockus is having none of that. The dancer-choreographer, in fact, is producing a “Nutcracker” with no ballet and only a smattering of Tchaikovsky -- as wrung through the jazz filter of Duke Ellington.

Like other alternative holiday dance fare -- “Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker!” (see review on Page E8) and Mark Morris’ “The Hard Nut” -- the “Spectrum Nutcracker” follows the tale of a dreamy girl and a kitchen-implement-come-to-life. But Brockus serves it up as a Christmas buffet of local dance -- a helping of folklorico, a slice of flamenco, and sides of contemporary, tap, hip-hop and salsa.

Brockus, who produces the award-winning Dance in L.A. performance series, isn’t much of a “Nutcracker” fan. Inspired by a twisted “Swan Lake” staged by Cullberg Ballet a few years ago, she considered how to recast a classic. The result runs Saturday and Sunday at the Ivar Theatre in Hollywood.

“We’ve taken a lot of the sugar out of the ‘Nutcracker’ that was making it too sweet and made it a fun piece,” Brockus said.

Her seven-member Brockus Project Dance Company portrays the German family in E.T.A. Hoffmann’s original story. She recruited about 60 other performers from Los Angeles’ diverse dance community to fill out the rest of the cast, from dancing snowflakes to sugar-plum fairies. But it was less a casting call and more an invitation. Brockus let dancers and choreographers choose a scene to reimagine in their own style.

Trey Knight turned himself into a stilt-dancing Mother Ginger.

Carin Noland leads a crew of hip-hop warrior mice.

Aleya and Negma Dance Company transformed themselves into a blizzard of belly-dancing snowflakes.

Josie Walsh, artistic director of Myo Dance Company and a former Joffrey ballerina, opted to choreograph the “Waltz of the Flowers” segment for a sextet of slinky dancers. In swirling burgundy, green and orange costumes (designed by Jenna De Robbio), they dance to industrial rock composed by her husband, Paul Rivera.

With its thrumming bass and filigreed guitar licks, the music is the antithesis of Tchaikovsky but an ideal wall of sound for the dancers’ ceiling-high kicks and athletic leaps.

“It’s definitely not a waltz,” Walsh said. “I was inspired by the music Paul was making and by the movie ‘Hero,’ where the actors were wearing the most gorgeous flowing costumes in the fight scenes. I created a powerful and aggressive piece, but at the same time it’s very beautiful -- like a lotus flower opening.”

(Myo Dance Company also performs Wednesday at Hollywood’s Henry Fonda Music Box Theater.)

Other takes on the enduring classic include JazzAntiqua’s vision of Sugar Plum Fairies boogieing to Ellington and AguaLuna Dance Company’s party scene with 1950s folkloric dances from Northern Mexico.

If it sounds a bit untraditional and crazy-quiltish, Brockus points out the festive set, decorated with snowflakes, gifts and a growing Christmas tree. Her company sets the tone with a medley of standard Christmas songs, and the other troupes will be bystanders, as if they’re part of the corps de ballet.

“In that sense,” Brockus said, “it’s truly a cooperative performance by the L.A. dance community.”

Where else would you find a salsa-dancing Clara? Ruby Karen cuts a rug with Alex Da Silva (they’re international champions) for the grand pas de deux, then chills out at the party. The Nutcracker Prince may be brave, but she’ll take on that menacing mouse leader (Noland) herself ... with her shoe. It’s so very “Sex and the City.”

“The classical ‘Nutcracker’ is repetitive,” said Joseph Allen Decker, who danced it in a more traditional vein with Colorado’s Pueblo Ballet. In L.A., he’ll play the magician Drosselmeyer with a Rat Pack look, brandishing a Spanish cape over a pinstripe suit. “It’s a staple and it happens every year. This is creating a new genre that’s more original and something for an alternative audience.”

Even an alternative can become a tradition, though -- which Brockus wouldn’t mind.

“The different styles of music is the tricky part. It’s not going to be as smooth as Mr. Tchaikovsky’s. If we do this again, I’ll assign the music as well.”

As for this year’s scene transitions, she added, “we’re hoping the applause will help.”

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Spectrum Nutcracker

Where: Ivar Theatre, 1605 Ivar Ave., Hollywood

When: 8 p.m. Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday

Price: $16-$20

Info: (562) 531-8949