There was some adult supervision in cast, too. The dancing dolls were great fun, managing mechanical movements that a wind-up doll would make while performing jumps and spins. The soldier performed an athletic battle scene with Mouse King. The Sugarplum Fairy was terrific, performing solo and with prince who accompanies kids through la-la land. He had some marvelous moves but appeared exhausted by end. It was like watching Olympics, hoping he wouldn't drop his partner or slip and fall. I was reminded of Shanghai Ballet, whose lightly built male principals lacked Herculean strength but still looked remarkably graceful in their lifts during their visit to Las Vegas in November.

Tchaikovsky epitomized Romantic period of music, which emphasized exotic influences and emotional expression. The most fun part of story - and of music - is dancing performances in Clara's dream. The Spanish Dance trio whirled in their flamboyant costumes. Tonight's Arabian Dance was slow and sensual and featured an impossibly flexible female dancer who made yoga look like child's play. The Chinese Dance pair hopped and twirled playfully to very lively music. The Dance of Mirlitons featured three graceful ladies doing some fairly traditional ballet moves. The acrobatic Cossack Dancer threw himself all over stage, doing one-footed twirling jumps, landing in a split without wincing (I did wincing for him), and making it look easy. The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe had an army of small children emerge from folds of her enormous skirts to perform a very playful and charming dance as she blew kisses to audience. Finally, scene in Land of Snow featured a corps of young female ballerinas and three principals who enchanted us (well, me, at least) with their graceful dancing and warm smiles as they performed lovely Waltz of Flowers.

The costumes, sets, and choreography for this performance were lavish and reflected quite well on NBT's artistic director, Bruce Steivel, and theatrical designer Alexandre Vassiliev. My date had seen same performance two years before and said that this year's was greatly improved. The $250,000 grant from E.L. Wiegand Foundation and sponsorship by International Gaming Technology helped make all this possible.

To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link: http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/classic/vegas/ballet/nut/nut.htmll

Rob LaGrone, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com

Enter Steve Wynn, savvy businessman and visionary of epic proportions. Wynn reasoned that Siegfried and Roy had made Mirage an entertainment destination, and that talented Gans would add a double whammy. Once again, Wynn gambled and won. He signed Danny to a ten-year contract with his own theater. The 1,260 seat custom-built theater is warm and luxurious with deep wine reds and rich dark wood panels. The seven-piece band plays and audience is primed for star.

Gans makes an energetic entrance wearing black pants, a black turtleneck and a well-cut black sport jacket. Creating an immediate bond with audience, using minimal props, his talent is obvious. It is easy to understand why he has been named "Singer of Year", "Comedian of Year", "Entertainer of Year", "Show of Year", and most recently, "Showman of Year".

As he transitions through Smokey Robinson, Joe Cocker, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Temptations, James Brown, and Ray Charles, one feels that he is a genuinely happy man. Gans effuses warmth and a passion for his craft. His gestures and dance moves are as accurate as his vocals. His George Burns is funny, and touching. Boomers and their parents could be seen with a nostalgic tear in their eyes. One of highlights was a duet between Jimmy Stewart and Kermit Frog. He captured Rod Stewart's throaty Scotch voice on 'Have I Told you Lately That I Love You?', and Bruce Springsteen's Philly bravado on 'Glory Days'. There was comedy with Bill Clinton and redneck jokes with Jeff Foxworthy. Using a wig and his profile he captured both Nat King Cole and daughter Natalie Cole. He received a standing ovation for his impression of Savage Garden.

To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link: http://jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/shows/danny/gans.html

Linda Lane, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com