design by Matt Quintinilla and photos by Meghan Mazella

There is a surprising lack of tutus and toe shoes at IC Unbound’s dress rehearsal of “The Nutcracker.”

Less than a week before the performance, an eclectic group of dancers practices on the slick wooden floor of the club’s rehearsal room in Hill Center. Some leap and jump around the room, while others put on their unique costumes.

A performer stands in the corner of the room, juggling blue, purple and orange rings. A breakdancer in street clothes rehearses his moves on the ground. Shooting his legs up toward the ceiling, he spins and writhes on the floor. Gymnasts suit up in sparkling, midnight blue leotards that catch the light as they move.

Junior Melissa Scahill, dancer and choreographer, is excited about IC Unbound’s unconventional “Nutcracker.”

“It has such diversity,” Scahill said. “I mean, wow — it has everything from your typical cliché nutcracker to breakdancing.”

Based on past experiences with the traditional ballet, it was senior Betsy Uhler’s vision to take the classic “Nutcracker” ballet and spice it up.

Uhler, IC Unbound’s Chair of Publicity, has danced in “The Nutcracker” for six years before coming to Ithaca College. She said children used to attend the performances and they told her it was boring.

Uhler said an hour and a half of ballet is hard to watch for a lot of people. She wanted to do her own version of “The Nutcracker” even before she came to Ithaca College.

This is Uhler’s senior year, and she said she realized it was her last chance to create her own rendering of the famed holiday ballet.

“This is an opportunity for those people who have seen the same show a hundred times before to see the show as something completely different,” Uhler said.

It was Uhler’s goal to make the time period of the production more ambiguous, the story more plausible and to incorporate as many movement styles as possible. However, the production will keep the original music and scenes.

The traditional plot details Clara’s journey to the Land of Sweets after receiving a nutcracker from her eccentric godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer, at her family’s holiday party.

IC Unbound’s Nutcracker follows the same basic story line. Instead of the usual party scene in which guests just dance around, this version includes a gymnast and a performer who twirls, spins and catches diablos.

Uhler is choreographing the entire first act as well as co-choreographing a few pieces for the second act. Scahill is co-choreographing “Waltz of Flowers” with Uhler.

Though this is Scahill’s first experience with choreographing, she said that she and Uhler have been working well together. When they have opposing ideas, they compromise. Scahill also said that, as choreographers, the pair is open to other people’s suggestions. “We weren’t sure what to do for a couple counts, like near the end, and the dancers jumped right in,” Scahill said. “They offered suggestions and that’s how we were able to come up with the rest of the dance.” Senior Josh Feldman is another of Uhler’s collaborators in producing this show. Feldman has been involved in several productions of “The Nutcracker” but said that this one is particularly stimulating for him. “What’s even more exciting is the dynamic changes that are being made, because we have so much respect for the original,” Feldman said.

Sophomore Adrian Miranda will dance the part of the Nutcracker. He said he used to be timid about his dancing, but IC Unbound has helped him become more comfortable on stage. Miranda will dance ballet during the modernized battle scene.

Typically, the popular battle scene is between the toy soldiers and the mice. The Nutcracker is the leader of the toy soldiers and challenges the Mouse King to a duel, in which he is able to wound the Mouse King after the king is distracted by Clara.

In this version, the story line is followed, but the toy soldiers breakdance and the mice dance hip-hop.

Senior Sarah Collins matches Feldman’s enthusiasm and said that this Nutcracker will be an exceptional twist on the classic. Collins is excited about dancing and choreographing her part as the Sugar Plum Fairy.

“There’s a certain amount of magic behind it,” Collins said.

In the classic show, the Nutcracker invites Clara to accompany him to the Land of Sweets where she witnesses a multitude of captivating dances.

The “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and its “Pas de Deux” crown the show.

While IC Unbound includes the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” there is no “Pas de Deux.” Nonetheless, it is one of the show’s rare dances of pure ballet, with Collins spinning and jumping in a sheer purple skirt adorned with pink and purple sparkles.

Uhler is encouraging a minimalist approach toward costumes. Uhler said she is urging choreographers to use the resources already available to them before buying costumes.

Heeding Uhler’s advice, the majority of dances in the Nutcracker have simple costumes. Common dancewear such as black leotards and pants are jazzed up with accessories.

Feldman said an important aspect of IC Unbound — one that sets it apart from other dance groups — is that its productions are essentially about the dance.

“There’s nothing egotistical about it,” Feldman said. “It’s about people that love to dance.”

The IC Unbound performance of the Nutcracker will take place on Dec. 6 at 8:30 p.m. in Emerson Suites. Tickets will be on sale for $3 at Campus Center Ticket Sales until Dec. 6.