Hip Hop Nutcracker Returns To Chicago For The Holiday Season

Cadence Blackful portrays Tea in the Hip Hop Nutcracker. PHOTO PROVIDED BY BROADWAY IN CHICAGO.
Cadence Blackful portrays Tea in the Hip Hop Nutcracker. PHOTO PROVIDED BY BROADWAY IN CHICAGO.

Hip Hop Nutcracker Returns To Chicago For The Holiday Season

By Tia Carol Jones

Cadence Blackful has been dancing since she was in sixth grade. Her family had moved from Illinois to California and her mother wanted her to be involved in an activity. Cadence was hesitant at first, but her mother insisted. She liked taking the dance classes but wanted to try a different dance style. She went to a hip hop dance studio and fell in love with it. 


Cadence has been dancing for seven years and in that time has been part of a competitive dance crew that won first place at Collaboration, a dance competition that is held in Southern and Northern California. At the age of 13, she became a professional dancer with the WNBA team the Los Angeles Sparks and is a member of the NBA Los Angeles Clippers Spirit Dance Team.


Cadence portrays Tea in the Hip Hop Nutcracker, which will run through Dec. 15th at the CIBC Theatre, located at 18 W. Monroe St. Legendary Hip Hop Artist Kurtis Blow is back as the host of the Hip Hop Nutcracker, along with dancers, a DJ, and an electronic violinist. 


“The Hip Hop Nutcracker” is directed, choreographed, and co-created by Jennifer Weber. Weber is an Emmy winner, as well as a two-time Tony and Olivier award-nominee, who also choreographed the international hit musical, “& Juliet,” which ends its run at The Cadillac Palace Theatre on Dec. 15th. 


“The Hip Hop Nutcracker is a magical journey where tradition meets innovation, offering families and friends a holiday experience like no other,” Kurtis Blow said in a release. “This show is proof that the magic of the holidays can be found in the most unexpected places.” 


Cadence loves Christmas and loves the original Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Ballet. Being stronger in hip hop dancing than ballet, when she found out about the Hip Hop Nutcracker, she loved the idea of a new version and style of the Nutcracker. This version of the Nutcracker is set in New York City in contemporary times. Cadence describes her character Tea as upbeat and sassy. She is the bartender at the 80’s bar where Maria Clara’s parents meet for the first time.


Candence’s favorite song from Hip Hop Nutcracker is Arabian, because of how the music and choreography match so well together. Cadence said the most enjoyable part of preparing for the Hip Hop Nutcracker has been the rehearsals.


“Everybody in the cast is so talented and we’re all such different dancers. Not one of us is the same and so when we’re in rehearsals, everybody is so loving and so welcoming. I love the entire cast,” Cadence said.


Cadence hopes that people are inspired by the performance and that it brings them a sense of joy and happiness. The same way it brought her joy when she was younger watching Christmas specials on television. She said with such a talented cast, she hopes people who come out to the performance are inspired to work harder at whatever they put their effort into.


Cadence said it feels amazing to be able to come back to Chicago. She said she loves the museums and food in Chicago. She said she is very excited to be back in Chicago. 


Cost for tickets range from $38 to $116. Tickets are available at BroadwayInChicago.com.Groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets by calling (312) 977-1710 or by emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. For more information about the Hip Hop Nutcracker, visit www.hiphopnutcracker.com.


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