Sung Shines In The Nutcracker, Giving Production a Local Flair

One of the standards of the holiday season, as sure as Santa Claus and the nativity scene, is The Nutcracker. This year is no different, and audiences will have a chance to see it performed by the Maple Ballet.

And in the middle of it will be Rancho Santa Margarita resident Danny Sung.

Under the direction of Charles Maple, Sung will help transport audiences to the enchanting land of the Palace of Sweets Theatre during its run Dec. 17-18 and  20-22.

The performance takes place at the 620-seat Performing Arts Center at Northwood High School.

Sung, 36, is a Bay Area native who has studied at the Maple Conservatory in Irvine; he can be seen throughout the production as an ensemble dancer.

“Ballet is one of those things that really gets into you,” said Sung, whose day job is a software engineer at a medical device company developing pulse oximeters. “Dance has made the biggest impact on my life; it’s enabled me to discover a lot of confidence in myself.”

With sold-out performance since its debut in 2006, the Maple Ballet’s The Nutcracker features more than 80 classically trained dancers, opulent handmade costumes and masterfully created original stage sets. Performing alongside Sung as the Nutcracker Prince is Australian Aaron Smyth, an award-winning dancer from American Ballet Theatre II (ABT II). Smyth received the Gold Medal at the Genee International Ballet Competition.

The Maple Ballet’s The Nutcracker showcases glowing special effects such as a life-size gingerbread house, a Swarovski crystal curtain and eight-foot teapot. Set against 50-foot hand painted backdrops and a spectacular 55-foot growing Christmas tree, The Nutcracker also features dancing snowflakes, whimsical fairies, and an array of spirited characters such as the sinister Rat King and “Grandma Clara,” who retells her story of dreaming to become a ballerina.

Performances set to Tchaikovsky’s original score include the “Waltz of the Flowers,” “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” and the “Mother Ginger Dance.”

“I’m proud to share the stage with so many incredibly talented people,” Sung said. “The dancers from the Maple Ballet production are amongst the most creative, varied, interesting, generous, fun down-to-earth people you'll ever meet. Their talent is unprecedented; I’m excited to be a part of such an amazing holiday production.”

Tickets, ranging from $22 to $50, can be purchased through 888-71 TICKETS or online. Because the shows typically sell out, advance purchase is strongly recommended.