At this time of year, Madeline Canterella Culpo goes into military mode.
The artistic director of the Albany Berkshire Ballet oversees complex operations on several fronts - her 3,000 recruits from Vermont to upstate New York must be transformed from little girls and boys into fighting mice, reindeer, soldiers, snow and flowers. She commands her ballet mistresses to create the magic of the holidays New England has come to love and expect from “The Nutcracker.â€
Her company’s first performance of the season at the Consolati Performing Arts Center in Sheffield delighted child-filled audiences and the parents and friends of the scores of Berkshire County students who performed. Three more Berkshire performances follow, on Nov. 27, 28 and 29 at Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield.
Escape from reality
Since the troupe's first Nutcracker in 1974, the Albany Berkshire Ballet has combined professional dancers with students from the Canterella Dance Company to create the show. The Pittsfield institution has been around long enough for some of the students to return and perform as professionals.
“People are ready for a little escape from reality,†says Culpo, who was pleased with her company’s preview performance. “It was a wonderful first show, and that alleviates some of the exhaustion.â€
Culpo welcomes challenges. “You can do anything as long as no one tells you you can’t,†she says. Known as "Miss Madeline" to dance students and to the small staff who inhabit a North Street office, she laughingly recalls the brainstorm she had, when, in the dance school’s 16th year, she proposed they perform “The Nutcracker.â€
“It was October, and I had no set, no costumes, and no idea how to choreograph such a large group.†Culpo recalls, adding that she learned a great deal from that experience, and has gone on to expand and fine-tune the ballet every year sine 1974.
Fiscal challenges
Like many performing arts organizations, the Albany Berkshire Ballet struggles for revenue and Culpo has had to cut back, abandoning the troupe's summer program for a number of years. This year, summer ballet will return.
But, throughout the ebbs & flows, Culpo has taught consistently. The organization has also provided touring education programs for schools. And, each year, the troupe has performed "The Nutcracker"
“Students are getting an experience they’re going to treasure for a lifetime,†Culpo says.
Memorable experience
Kate Feure of Stockbridge, who played the Kissy Doll in Sunday evening’s performance, is enjoying a memorable experience. A student, she was chosen by Culpo for a part normally reserved for the professional company dancers. She had responded to Culpo’s call for volunteers to learn the part, but was surprised and delighted to win a part in the performance. The decision was so last-minute that her name never made it into the program.
“It was very exciting," Feure said. "I’ve been working up to doing something other than flowers and snow. To be able to do such a cool part was very exciting."
This is Feure’s first year performing a solo part and her second year of touring with the company. She has danced in the Joffrey ballet’s summer program, and wants to make dance her career when she graduates from Monument Mountain Regional High School next year.
Snow Queen Alicia Girgenti grew up in Adams and performed for many years in “The Nutcracker†as a student. She is now a teacher at the Canterella School and has no desire to seek fame and fortune elsewhere. “I love it here,†she says. “I live to perform and I enjoy doing all the shows. As a company member, doing all the shows is more challenging and a lot of work. But I love it. I love teaching and it gives me a lot of opportunities. Miss Madeline’s great.â€
Culpo says the ballet is in “a building stage.†The summer season will return to BCC’s theatre in 2002 with a staging of “Carmina Burana†and other works that have yet to be chosen. The ensemble performs contemporary works by modern dance choreographers as well as classical ballets. Their repertoire includes work by Michael Fokine and Anthony Tudor, as well as Laura Dean and Bill T. Jones. In 1993, the company premiered an original work by Culpo for the opening of the Norman Rockwell Museum called “Rockwell Suite.â€
The opulent set for “The Nutcracker,†new last year, was designed by Carl Sprague. For more information or for tickets, call The Albany Berkshire Ballet at (413) 442-1307 in Pittsfield, (518) 426-0660 in Albany, or visit their website at www.berkshireballet.org.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.
In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.
Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear.
The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.
"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."
Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.
In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.
The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.
"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.
The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.
In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.
"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
click for more
