(718) 260–2500 Brooklyn Paper’s essential guide to the Borough of Kings December 6–12, 2019
SKATING
Skate of mind
It’s a new spot to chill out!
One of Industry City’s outdoor courtyards
has frozen over, transforming into a holidaythemed
ice rink and winter wonderland featuring
an inflatable Santa, blinking lights, and
plastic snowmen. The courtyard’s Christmas
decorations are designed to evoke the feeling
of Brooklyn’s most festive neighborhood, said
the complex’s development director.
“It’s our ode to Dyker Heights,” said Jim Somoza.
“Over the top, everything over the top.”
The uncovered ice rink opened for its inaugural
season last weekend, and will host skating
hours on Wednesdays through Sundays until the
end of March. On Friday and Saturday nights,
the rink will host special theme nights, with disk
jockeys spinning hits from the ’80s, country music,
or boy band songs, depending on the night.
The skating dance parties are just part of the fun
in store for the rink, said Somoza.
“We are still coming up with a lot of different
things to do,” Somoza said. “We are going
to offer curling, possibly some two-on-two
hockey.”
Once skaters tire of perfecting their figure
eights underneath the bright holiday lights, they
can retreat to a ski-lodge themed outdoor tent, or
grab a drink at an outdoor bar decorated like a
gingerbread house and surrounded by seasonal
icons, including Santa Claus and the Grinch.
One upcoming feature — a fire pit — will soon
offer a spot for people to gather with food and
beverages before and after their turns on the
ice, said the Industry City rep.
“Adults can bring their drinks, kids can have
theirs, and everyone can make some s’mores,” Somoza
said. “This is our way of doing something
fun for the family. It is so fun watching people’s
faces as they round the corner of the ice skating
rink and see the fun that can be had.”
The rink, inside Industry City’s Courtyard
5-6, is near several restaurants and bars, including
Brooklyn Kura sake bar, Barrow’s Intense
Ginger Liqueur tasting room, and the Frying
Pan bar. Holiday events are also taking place
throughout the sprawling Sunset Park complex,
including carolers, holiday markets, and roving
visits from Buddy the Elf.
Go ice skating at Industry City Courtyard
5-6 (220 36th St. between Second and Third
avenues in Sunset Park, www.industrycity.com/
ice-rink). Open Wed–Thu, 4–8 pm; Fri, 11 am–8
pm; Sat, 10 am–8 pm; Sun, 10 am–6 pm. $10 ($6
kids; skate rental $9). — Jessica Parks
Lords a-leaping: Brooklyn kids will join the Moscow Ballet at Kings Theatre for its elaborate performance of “The Great Russian Nutcracker” on Dec. 7.
By Ben Verde
Brooklyn Paper
It’s a cracking good show!
Brooklynites who want to catch beloved
holiday classic “The Nutcracker”
have plenty of options right here in the borough.
Seven spots in Kings County will
feature local takes on the sugarplum fairies,
mice soldiers, and big-jawed dolls of
Tchaikovsky’s ballet.
Bawdy ballet
A Bushwick burlesque company will
present “Nutcracker Rouge,” a provocative
take on the classic ballet that features trapeze
artists, close-up magic, and opera singers.
The show runs through through January, so
you have plenty of time to catch it!
Nutcracker Rouge” at Theatre XIV 383
Troutman St. between Irving and Wyckoff
avenues in Bushwick, www.companyxiv.
com, (866) 811–4111. Running through
Jan. 26 at various times. $50–$195.
Party people
More than 70 kids from across the borough
will join professional members of the
Moscow Ballet during two performances of
“The Great Russian Nutcracker” at Kings
Theatre. The youngsters, who have all received
at least one year of training at ballet
schools in Kings County, will take on the
roles of party guests, mice, snowflakes,
and other minor figures, dancing alongside
Russian ballet heavyweights at the
elaborate touring show.
At Kings Theatre 1027 Flatbush Ave
between Tilden Road and Duryea Place
in Flatbush, (718) 282–804, www.kingstheatre.
com. Dec. 7 at 2 pm and 7 pm.
$30–$60.
Local Nuts!
The next weekend, you can return to the
Kings Theatre for “The Brooklyn Nutcracker,”
a “radically inclusive” version of the holiday
classic from the Brooklyn Ballet. You can
expect angels floating across subway platforms,
hip-hop dancers, and Middle Eastern
belly dancers performing against a backdrop
of iconic Kings County landmarks.
At Kings Theatre see above. Dec. 14 at
2 pm and 7 pm. $30–$115.
Magically hip
For a truly fresh reinterpretation of Tchaikovsky’s
score, visit the Kings Theatre one
more time for “The Hip Hop Nutcracker,”
narrated by Kurtis Blow. This version of the
128-year-old ballet swaps out ballerinas for
break–dancers, and switches an orchestra
for a DJ and a single violinist.
At the Kings Theatre see above.
Dec. 15 at 2 pm and 6:30 pm. $30–$80.
In the action!
You can literally join the party at a radically
reimagined version of “The Nutcracker,” at
East Midwood Jewish Center. The immersive
production from Alden Moves Dance Theatre
breaks down the fourth wall, allowing audience
members to participate in key moments
and interact with the cast, which includes
both kids and professional dancers.
At East Midwood Jewish Center 1625
Ocean Ave. between avenues K and L in
Midwood, (347) 365–6713, www.aldenmovesbk.
com/nutcracker. Dec. 15 at
noon and 5 pm. $30.
Suite sounds
For just a taste of the iconic ballet, head
to the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday
Concert, which will feature a performance
of the ballet’s “Nutcracker Suite.”
Brooklyn’s own orchestra will play both
the original Tchaikovsky version and Duke
Ellington’s jazzy interpretation.
At the Brooklyn Museum 200 Eastern
Parkway at Washington Avenue, Prospect
Heights, (718) 638–5000, www.brooklynsymphonyorchestra.
org. Dec. 15 at 2 pm.
$20.
Short and suite
Kids can enjoy a shortened version of
the Nutcracker designed for short attention
spans, when youngsters from the Cobble
Hill Ballet perform “Excerpts from The
Nutcracker.” The performance will feature
the most iconic scenes from the holiday
classic, including the Sugar Plum Fairy,
the Waltz of Flowers, and Russian Dolls
— all condensed into a kid-friendly one
hour run time.
At the Kimble Theater 1 University Plaza
at Flatbush Avenue, Downtown, (718)
488–1624, www.kimbletheater.org. Dec.
15 at noon, 3 pm, and 5 pm. $23.
Gone to pot Talk about dirty politics!
A new art exhibit uses five hot tubs-worth of
soil to reflect on democracy, renewal, and the
natural world. “When A Pot Finds Its Purpose,” a
two-part exhibition now on display at the Brooklyn
Academy
of Music’s first
dedicated visual
arts space, features
two enormous
metal
pots modeled
on the Liberty
Bell, with dirt
heaped around
them, to represent
the state of
national politics, according to its creator.
“It struck me that some of the systems in
our democracy need to be repotted,” said Glenn
Kaino, whose work will be on display until Dec.
15. “That was the inspiration to create these
vessels.”
The “Spill” part of the exhibit, at the Rudin
Family Gallery in the BAM Strong building, uses
a new, environmentally-friendly type of soil that
uses compost for the five-and-a-half cubic yards
of dirt surrounding the giant pots — which Taino
considers a symbol of hope and renewal.
“They call it a regenerative soil, it’s a soil
that has been created using composting in a
new and reusable way without chemicals,” he
said. “It’s time to rethink the tools we use that
are frankly out of date.”
Kaino was inspired to create the piece when
he heard pastor and author Bishop T.D. Jakes
speak about the figurative importance of pots.
“He was talking a lot about the metaphor of
potting and this notion of how plants need to be
repotted to be healthy and grow,” Kaino said.
“He was talking about creativity and wisdom and
the need to expand intellectual spaces.”
The other half of the exhibit is a literally moving
installation depicting tiny waves flowing
back and forth. “Blue” includes 22 small wave
machines — miniature clear plexiglass boxes
filled with blue water that tilt from side to side,
creating small wave formations. The movement
of the boxes appears to be synchronized, but they
are actually moving at slightly different speeds
and have slightly different shapes, which creates
a mesmerizing, meditative effect.
Kaino said that both installations evoke the
natural world, and inspire viewers to think about
the collective — a theme present in much of his
artistic practice.
“They’re both different types of meditations
about ideas that are bigger than an individual,”
Kaino noted. “The practice aspires to ask big
questions about the nature of our humanity.”
“When A Pot Finds Its Purpose” at the Brooklyn
Academy of Music’s Rudin Family Gallery
651 Fulton St. between Ashland and Rockwell
places in Fort Greene, (718) 636–4100, www.
bam.org. Open Wed–Sun, noon–6 pm.
— Rose Adams
ART
Photo by Moscow Ballet
Mixed nuts Take your pick of where to watch ‘The Nutcracker’ this season
Sweet outfit: The Brooklyn Ballet puts a colorful, modern spin on the sugarplum
fairy dance in “The Brooklyn Nutcracker,” at Kings Theatre on Dec. 14.
Rats! Children hide from the Mouse King,
in the immersive production of “The Nutcracker”
coming to the East Midwood Jewish
Center on Dec. 15.
Photo by Matt Carr
Photo by Trey Pentecost
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