When I think back on the four Nutcrackers that I have been honored to be a part of, so many memories come up. Some that are a part of the ritual like; the big sigh and laydown after snow when the curtain closes, the secret Santa, the notes during tech week, or the warm-up with the cast when we are squeezing to make room for everyone. These are the things that make me always look forward to this time of year. But, my favorite memory is somewhat more generic, it is the feeling of leaving everything that you have on the stage.
All of the dancers of MPBT work so hard for long hours. You grow so close to everyone on the cast, you make countless corrections to make it perfect and your body knows each and every step like second nature. So, my most memorable experience of Nutcracker is the feeling of it all coming together and the joy that we hope that the entire audience can feel is genuine. I am so thankful for Monterey Peninsula Ballet Theater and Tia the artistic director for giving us dancers the opportunity to dance this amazing ballet for our community. There are so many things that I am looking forward this year! From the long rehearsals, the changes that Tia will make, and the inside jokes and laughter that will be made. To summarize, I am so excited for the whole process of making the magical Nutcracker our very own. I can remember being a young chiId and my mom bringing my sisters and I to San Francisco Ballet to see their Nutracker. I was mesmerized and wanted to dance every dance. Then, as I got a little older and was able to start dancing and I got to be apart of my very own show, MPBT’s Nutcracker. I remember looking up to all of the leads so much and dreaming about being in their roles some day. Therefore, I am so looking forward to and honored to be able to be dancing the Grande Pas this year.
A piece of advice I would give the younger dancers would be to just take it all in! Enjoy every minute! Nutcracker and performing on stage in general has been a journey for me. There was a time that I did not like to be on stage but then I learned to take it all in and enjoy the process. The support that was behind me with Tia and all of our teachers, the buzz that is in the air, the friendships that have been made have truly become the reasons that I love to perform. I hope that all of the younger dancers will take the chance to enjoy their time in rehearsals and on stage and to show the love and enjoyment dance creates for them because that is what dance is all about for me: Love every second of what you are you are doing.
Comments