METRO.US WEEKEND, DECEMBER 4 - 6 , 2015 WKND 17 Alternative ‘Nutcrackers’ The confetti-laden Dance of the Snowfl akes from Mark Morris’ “The Hard Nut.” STEPHANIE BERGER From the classical to unusual and surprising er Prince take in performances Keith Michael’s “The Nutcracker” has Art Nouveau costumes. JULIETA CERVANTES the R-rated, you’re versions, from the classic from a host of New York City’s sure to fi nd a version to the irreverent to the most eclectic dance companies, “Nutcracker Tickets start at $50 NSFW. including Bulgarian folk, Jamaican Rouge” of Tchaikovsky’s be- dancehall and classical Indian. George Balanchine’s loved ballet that speaks Dec. 15 - 20 Company XIV “The Hard Nut” Harika Chatlapalli will perform classi- “The Nutcracker” to you. The Secret Theatre, 4402 23rd This is not the “Nutcracker” Mark Morris Dance Group Street, Long Island City cal Indian dance at “Dance the World from your childhood. New York City Ballet PAVAN CHATLAPALLI If “The Nutcracker” were directed $25 general admission, $20 Nutcracker Festival.” “Nutcracker Rouge” blends The ne plus ultra of all “Nutcrack- RAQUEL LANERI by John Waters, it would probably students/seniors/artists classical dance with circus, ers,” with an epic on stage @RaquelLaneri look a lot like this gender-bending, and even an owl that fl ies above opera, drag, burlesque and snowstorm, hundreds of elaborate [email protected] swinging, 1970s romp. With a Keith Michael’s “The the audience. Adults will dig the high fashion for the ultimate costumes (including a mammoth look based on comic book artist sophisticated Art Nouveau set and mashup. Partial nudity, so only 85-pound Mother Ginger outfi t) When it comes to the Charles Burns’ cartoons, “The Hard Nutcracker” costumes. 16 and over admitted. and that famous Christmas tree holiday season, certain Nut” features raucous parties, New York Theatre Ballet Dec. 11 - 13 New York Theatre Through Jan. 15 that grows from 12 to 40 feet. clichés — pardon us, dancing GI Joes and lots and lots An hour-long “Nutcracker”? Sign Ballet Minetta Lane Theatre, 18 Through Jan. 3 traditions — come to of confetti. us up! This kiddie-friendly produc- Florence Gould Hall, 55 East 59th Minetta Lane David H. Koch Theater, 20 Lincoln mind: chestnuts roasting Dec. 12 - 20 tion adds a cartoonish vibrancy to Street on an open fire, visions of Brooklyn Academy of Music, 30 the traditional ballet, with mice $34 general admission, $24 sugar plums dancing in Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn dressed in polka dots, ballerinas children 12 and under one’s head and, of course, Tickets start at $25 dancing with huge chopsticks “The Nutcracker,” the Christmas-themed ballet “Dance the World that has captivated chil- dren (and adults) for more Nutcracker Festival” than a century. But even if JP Dance Group classical music and tutus This multicultural “Nutcracker” aren’t really your thing opens in a Harlem brownstone — or if you’ve seen the in the height of the roaring ’20s, Tchaikovsky ballet a mil- with music from Duke Ellington’s lion times — don’t write jazz arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s off this holiday classic original score. It then makes its just yet. Here we round way to the World’s Fair, where up some of the best, most fl apper-girl Clara and her Nutcrack- “Nutcracker Rouge” JOSHUA FLANNIGAN George Balanchine’s production is the standard-bearer. PAUL KOLNIK.