Yasmine Emani Hunter watches as Vidya "Seven Love" Shaker and Reggie McNair rehearse a dance scene at the Lakewood Dance Academy for the production of the 5 Points Nutcracker.
鈥疶he Nutcracker is a festive tradition for many people during the holiday season. Now, a unique twist on the story showcases the history and cultural importance of Denver's Five Points neighborhood. 鈥�
It鈥檚 called . Duke Ellington鈥檚 jazz version of the music is the backbone of the production 鈥� and what inspired the idea for the show鈥檚 director, Larea Edwards.鈥�
鈥淚t's just such a beautiful interpretation,鈥� Edwards said. 鈥淎nd I thought, 'how could we tell the story of The Nutcracker, using Duke Ellington's version?鈥� And the Five Points Nutcracker was born.鈥濃��
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The cast of the Five Points Nutcracker practices a dance scene during rehearsals at the Lakewood Dance Academy. The Five Points Nutcracker reimagines the holiday classic by celebrating the cultural richness of Denver's 5 Points neighborhood, often called "The Harlem of the West."
Amanda Lopez
2 of 18 — A woman in a long white dress bends over and talks to another woman seated with a notebook. They can be framed by a doorway. Around them are clothes and other theatrical props.
Yasmine Emani Hunter chats with stage manager Juliana Atteberry before rehearsal begins for The Five Points Nutcracker at the Lakewood Dance Academy.
Amanda Lopez
3 of 18 — A woman in a long-sleeved gray shirt and pants speaks while various cast members look on. A woman in a purple dress stands off to the side, intently listening. A woman with a mask on is seated to the left, also looking intently.
Larea Edwards, director of the Five Points Nutcracker, reviews the run of show with cast members during rehearsals at the Lakewood Dance Academy. The Five Points Nutcracker offers a fresh interpretation of the holiday classic, celebrating the cultural vibrancy of Denver's Five Points neighborhood, often referred to as "The Harlem of the West."
Amanda Lopez
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The cast of the Five Points Nutcracker practices a dance scene during rehearsals at the Lakewood Dance Academy. The Five Points Nutcracker reimagines the holiday classic by celebrating the cultural richness of Denver's Five Points neighborhood, often called "The Harlem of the West."
Amanda Lopez
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Larea Edwards (left), director of the Five Points Nutcracker, watches on as the ensemble cast rehearses a flower scene. The Five Points Nutcrackers debuts at The Savoy Denver on Dec. 20, 2024.
Amanda Lopez
6 of 18 — A man wearing a red hat and a woman stand back to back. They are holding large red and green petals upward.
Jamal 鈥淢oon鈥� Johnson and ensemble partner Vidya "Seven Love" Shaker rehearse a flower scene for the upcoming Five Points Nutcracker performance.
Amanda Lopez
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Ensemble partners Vidya "Seven Love" Shaker and Jamal 鈥淢oon鈥� Johnson, Constance 鈥淐onnie Love鈥� Harris and Pierre Andre鈥� McNair, and Leah Casper and Reggie McNair rehearse a dance scene for the Five Points Nutcracker, debuting at The Savoy Denver on Dec. 20, 2024.
Amanda Lopez
8 of 18 — A woman has her hands outstretched, deep in thought in the middle of a dance.
Constance 鈥淐onnie Love鈥� Harris, who plays Sugar Rum Cherry in the Five Points Nutcracker, is pictured during a dance rehearsal at the Lakewood Dance Academy.
Amanda Lopez
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Reggie McNair and Yasmine Emani Hunter rehearse the "Chinoiserie" scene for the Five Points Nutcracker. The 5 Points Nutcracker presents a unique take on the holiday classic, celebrating the cultural vibrancy of Denver's Five Points neighborhood, often called "The Harlem of the West."
Amanda Lopez
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Reggie McNair, Yasmine Emani Hunter, and Leah Casper rehearse a dance scene with fellow castmates for The Five Points Nutcracker. The Five Points Nutcracker offers a unique take on the holiday classic, celebrating the cultural vibrancy of Denver's Five Points neighborhood, often called "The Harlem of the West."
Amanda Lopez
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Yasmine Emani Hunter, who plays Clara in the Five Points Nutcracker, is pictured taking a moment between scenes during rehearsals.
Amanda Lopez
12 of 18 — 萝莉少女-5 Points Nutcracker/5 Points_12_1M5A0120.jpg
Steve Dewey, who plays the Rat King in the Five Points Nutcracker, rehearses a shadow scene at the Lakewood Dance Academy. The Five Points Nutcracker offers a unique take on the holiday classic, honoring the cultural vibrancy of Denver's Five Points neighborhood, often referred to as "The Harlem of the West."
Amanda Lopez
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Steve Dewey, who plays the Rat King in the Five Points Nutcracker, rehearses a shadow scene at the Lakewood Dance Academy.
Amanda Lopez
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Larea Edwards (center), director of the Five Points Nutcracker, steps in to review a scene with the ensemble cast during rehearsals at the Lakewood Dance Academy.
Amanda Lopez
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Constance 鈥淐onnie Love鈥� Harris rehearses a dance scene with castmates Kelsey Kiernan and Pierre Andre鈥� McNair for the production of the Five Points Nutcracker at the Lakewood Dance Academy.
Amanda Lopez
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Clara, played by Yasmine Emani Hunter (center), rehearses a scene with the ensemble cast of the 5 Points Nutcracker.
Amanda Lopez
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Leah Casper and Pierre Andre鈥� McNair practice a lift during dance rehearsals for the 5 Points Nutcracker.
Amanda Lopez
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Clara, played by Yasmine Emani Hunter (center), rehearses a scene with the ensemble cast of the Five Points Nutcracker on Dec. 15. The Five Points Nutcracker debuts Dec. 20 at the Savoy Denver.
Amanda Lopez
From the 1930s to the 1950s, was known as the 鈥淗arlem of the West.鈥� It was a鈥痸ibrant African American community, and a鈥� and other creative figures. Some of the greatest jazz musicians performed there, including Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and Duke Ellington himself.鈥�
The Five Points Nutcracker uses Ellington鈥檚 music and the story of the Nutcracker to explore the history of some important figures in the area鈥檚 history. 鈥�
In Edwards鈥� version, the heroes are significant leaders of the Black community in Denver鈥檚 Five Points neighborhood: Pioneering businesswoman , who may have been the first Black sheriff in Colorado; and business owners and philanthropists who were highly regarded in the community.鈥�
Amanda Lopez
Constance 鈥淐onnie Love鈥� Harris, who plays Sugar Rum Cherry in the Five Points Nutcracker, is pictured during a dance rehearsal at the Lakewood Dance Academy.
And the rats in the original story are represented by the who terrorized the community.鈥�
鈥淭he truths that are locked in that story, that fight against good and evil ... we are able to tell that, because it's our real, actual story, using those Five Points characters,鈥� Edwards said.鈥�
The production features actors and dancers from the performing arts group LuneASeas, and musicians from the Boulder Philharmonic will perform the Ellington score, with musical direction by Tenia Nelson.鈥�
The is happening this Friday, Dec. 20 through Sunday, Dec. 22 at the historic . 鈥�
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