A/N: This didn't go the way I was expecting to be honest, but I still like it.
"Spinning Sugar Plums"
Featuring: Alex and James Blake
When: December 2015/Season 11
Alex squeezed James' hand as the lights in the theater dimmed. An electric violin started up in the well-known opening cords of The Nutcracker. She loved this music as well as the ballet. But she was really excited for tonight as it was something new – different – The Hip Hop Nutcracker.
Spencer and Derek would have something to say smart to say about this. Well, I supposed Derek would be a smart alack whereas I would probably learn something from Spencer...
She bit her lip to keep from laughing as that thought came to her along with their conversations about rap music. She had laughed when she first saw the tickets for the show for that same reason. Even though it had been a year and a half since she'd left the BAU, they still thought of her. Although she was really happy teaching and spending more time with her husband in the past 18 months than she probably had in the five years before that, she did still miss seeing them every day. They certainly had a knack for worming their way into people's hearts. Particularly Spencer.
A pang of sadness hit her at that thought, knowing what he was going through. JJ had sent her a random text a few weeks ago, asking her to call and talk with him. Once she got him on the phone, she could see why. Her heart went out to him, but she was relieved that he had such a good support system to help him through.
James looked over and could see she wasn't focused as the curtain pulled back to reveal a New York City landscape. He squeezed her hand and she looked over and smiled before focusing back on the stage. Several dancers came out as the electric violin playing Tchaikovsky's original score was matched with the modern styling of DJ Boo, at least according to her playbill. By the time the well known notes of the opening party scene…dum duhah dum da dum dum dum…and the stage filled with eight dancers doing some synchronized hip hop moves and then also each individual showing off their skill sets, she could tell she was in for a good night. She was particularly impressed with the one gentleman's moves while in a handstand position.
The battling dances allowed for more humor in this rendition than the traditional ballet and it made her smile. She was also impressed with how many small, intricate movements they could time to the different tempo changes of the music. She smiled as the dancers navigating through plastic cups, laid out like obstacles on the ground. One dancer, in particular, did an amazing move to bending backwards, getting really low to the ground.
The Rat King had impressive dancers in her crew, each being "controlled" by 'him' – the dancer actually being a woman – showing off their different styles. Some were more pop and locking, some more robotic movements, others doing great acrobatics on the floor in the style of a b-boy. She never could fathom doing any of those moves herself, most looking like bones didn't exist or were dislocated. She also wondered if she'd surprise Derek or Penelope for knowing all those terms.
When Clara, covered in white – just not a dress, but white jeans and a long white sweater, got a chance to dance one-on-one with her Nutcracker, their movements although different from the ballet, were just as beautiful and in sync. It actually brought a tear to her eye, particularly when she felt James squeeze her hand again. They seemed to finally be back in sync after so many years of being off by just half a beat.
The dancing in this version's 'Land of Snow' was lovely, the couple being surrounded by the group of dancers doing circles around them. She wondered if it was harded to coordinate the flips and spins on the floor than some of the ballet moves.
Her favorite part was probably the Russian dance in the club that was used instead of the 'Land of Sweets.' The music was so fast pace that to see how the dancers kept up with it and each other while adding actual traditional Russian dancing was just insane to take in. That music always got to her as well, her own heart racing as it sped up.
She stood and clapped, James up out of his seat as well, when it came to an end. There was something so rejuvenating to her to see an old classic have a modernized twist. It warmed her heart as they exited the theater to see how many young people were leaving as well. She overhead a few comment how they wanted to see the ballet now, enjoying the music for the first time.
James wrapped an arm around her lower back, pulling her close as they went out into the cold Boston night. "Did you have a good time?"
She nodded, resting her head on his shoulder. "I did. Remind me to thank JJ and Spencer tomorrow, this was a great Christmas gift." She had been surprised that the couple had even sent anything to them. She knew what they were going through right now and she was by no means expecting this in her mail, but she was grateful.
He kissed the top of her head before separating from her so they could get into their car, pulling her thoughts back the present. "It really was. We will have to treat them the next time. Maybe we should send them some of your famous peanut butter kiss cookies?"
Alex laughed. "You just want some for yourself! The thoughts of sugar plums dancing in your head?"
James smiled, "Spinning on their heads maybe."
The former profiler rolled her eyes as her smile widened. She was pretty sure break dancing sugar plums were going to be in her dreams tonight as well.
