Traveler's journal: Nutcracker nuttiness

Something about wearing a glittery tiara on your head makes you think you can do anything. Like leap gracefully into the air at age 35, for example. Or pirouette even if you never have before.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

It doesn't matter that I am far from ballerina-graceful at the Dance-Along Nutcracker at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. The raucous, ridiculous, and utterly joyful performance by the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band includes costumed musicians, irreverent Nutcracker skits, audience members dressed as Shrek Santa and Little Bo Peep, and musical interludes for the twinkle-toes.

"Twirl me around or something," I say to my husband, Jim, just like Jan in Grease at the big Dance-Off. "Now I'm going to leap." He puts his hands to my waist. But it turns out those ballet girls are slim for a reason.

Still, the night is a roaring success. A 4-year-old in a pink tulle skirt spins with delight during the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy." Shrek Santa jitterbugs with Little Bo Peep until the Mad Hatter cuts in. And, most wonderful of all, I discover Jim looks fabulous in a tutu. 2:30 and 7 Dec 10; 11 and 3 Dec 11; $22, $15 ages 12 and under, $5 tutu rental. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St. (at Third St.), San Francisco; www.ybca.org or 415/978-2787. San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band; www.sflgfb.org

COPYRIGHT 2005 Sunset Publishing Corp.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group