From Nutcracker plays to Broadway’s ‘The Lion King’ choreographer: Five fall dance shows to look forward to in CT

Connecticut has a rich history of dance performance dating back to at least the 19th century when local theaters embraced innovative touring companies and looked for ways to bring the hot dance talents from Europe and Russia to the state.

That’s all still happening now, so we’re alerting you to some of the key dance shows of the next few months.

Connecticut has also become known for building up some great college dance programs — at the Hartt School, Wesleyan, Connecticut College and elsewhere, and even on the high school level at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts or New Haven’s Educational Center for the Arts.

Mostly, the fall dance season in Connecticut means “The Nutcracker.” Dozens of performances of that dreamy Christmas-set multi-styled dance extravaganza take place around the state from mid-November through late December. The beloved ballet has undergone some big changes over the years, as have some of the companies that perform it.

Here are a few of the more interesting ones.

Ailey II

This is the smaller touring company sharing the work of the legendary Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, specializing in works that explore Black history and identity.

The company, formed in 1974, has been visiting New Haven for nearly that long. The performance takes place Sunday at the Shubert, 247 College St., New Haven. $39-$79. shubert.com.

5x5 Contemporary Dance Festival

Technically, it’s 5+5, not 5x5, with five professional dance companies sharing a stage with five outstanding local college dance troupes. The 2020 festival was compromised by the COVID pandemic, but last year it returned to more than full strength with 12 participating acts to mark the fest’s 20th anniversary.

This year it’s back to 10, including Ballet Theatre Company, Dance Central, the history-themed Dimensional Dance Company, Ekklesia Contemporary Dance, Garet and Co., IMMIX Dance Project, KamrDANCE, MB Dance Theatre and Moxie Dance Company.

The Nov. 5 festival includes masterclasses and other gatherings, culminating in a 7 p.m. performance at Hoffman Auditorium in the Autorino Center at the University of St. Joseph, 1678 Asylum Ave, West Hartford. usj.edu.

World Dance Series

There used to be so many touring ballet and modern dance companies visiting the state that some of the major theaters would set up dance subscription series just like they had Broadway series.

The number of dance tours has dwindled precariously, so be thankful that the World Dance Series is coming to Connecticut twice in the same month, with two different Tchaikovsky classics at two different Palace theaters — Nov. 6 at 6 p.m. at the Palace Theater, 61 Atlantic St., Stamford ($49-$89) with “Swan Lake,” then Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. at the Palace Theater, 100 East Main St., Waterbury with “The Nutcracker” ($49-$175). palacestamford.org.

Garth Fagan Dance

The Jamaican-born choreographer has been working and dancing in the U.S. since the 1960s.

Fagan is internationally renowned for choreographing Broadway’s “The Lion King” for director Julie Taymor. His work for his own company is just as distinctive, progressive, bright and freeing and will take place Nov. 12 at 8 p.m. at UConn’s Jorgensen Center, 2132 Hillside Road in Storrs. $15-$35. jjorgensen.uconn.edu.

Movement of the People

This year’s Wesleyan University Fall Faculty Dance Concert presents the Movement of the People company led by Joya Powell, an assistant professor in Wesleyan’s dance department as well as a visiting assistant professor of African American Studies at the university.

Movement of the People will perform the original, satirical, current-events work “What’s Left of Spring,” described as “a collaborative Afrofuturist multidisciplinary immersive conversation on sociopolitical issues the United States has faced and will continue to face if systematic oppression continues to be the norm.”

There are two performances, Dec. 2 and 3, at 7 p.m. at the Wesleyan Center for the Arts, 271 Washington Terrace, Middletown. wesleyan.edu.

More Nutcrackers of note

• Ballet Theatre Company’s isn’t the only “Nutcracker” at The Bushnell this fall, but it is the first. The West Hartford-based company has rethought the ballet’s second act, removing what it sees as racial stereotypes or appropriations and making a bigger deal of the candy imagery. Shows are Nov. 26 at 2 and 7 p.m. and Nov. 27 at 11 a.m.* and 3 p.m. at The Bushnell’s Maxwell M. & Ruth R. Belding Theater, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford. $43-$78. bushnell.org.

• Connecticut Ballet, headquartered in both Hartford and Stamford, is bringing “The Nutcracker” to both cities. The ballet will perform for the first time ever at The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford on Dec. 10 and 11 at 1 and 5 p.m. each day ($58-$88), then to the Palace Theater, 61 Atlantic St., Stamford on Dec. 17 at 2 and 6 p.m. and Dec. 18 at 2 and 5 p.m. $50-$75). connecticutballet.org.

• Hamden’s Joan Lynn Dance Company changes up its “Nutcracker” on a regular basis. This year it’s “Nutcracker 3.0,” choreographed collaboratively by Victor Hugo Trevino, Dave Christensen and Vin Ianniello in a variety of dance styles, including “Hip Hop Rats” and “Tap Dancing Soldiers.” Guest dancers are Estefano Gil and Walter Nicolas Battistini from Ballet Eloelle-Grandiva. The show will take place Dec. 10 at noon and 4 p.m. at Hamden Middle School Auditorium, 2623 Dixwell Ave, Hamden. joanlynndancecompany.com.

• The nationally touring rhythmical revision of Tchaikovsky’s already jumpy classic, Hip Hop Nutcracker, hosted by rap pioneer Kurtis Blow, makes two Connecticut stops at the very end of the year, including Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. at the Shubert, 247 College St., New Haven ($40-$76) and Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. at The Bushnell’s Mortensen Hall, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford ($23-$92).

Reach reporter Christopher Arnott at carnott@courant.com.