The tale of the Nutcracker is a traditional Christmas ballet that enchants international audiences. This holiday season, junior Rose Hartnett and freshman Elora Wiggins will both be performing in Minnesota Dance Theater’s Nutcracker Fantasy. The performance will be at the State Theater on December 17, 18 and 19.
The Nutcracker is a heartwarming, action-filled story of a girl named Clara. At a Christmas celebration, Clara receives a Nutcracker from her godfather. She falls asleep under the Christmas tree and awakes at the stroke of midnight when a battle of mice and toy soldiers breaks out around her. The Nutcracker turns into a prince and he takes her on a dancing filled adventure.
“During the week we have rehearsal everyday when it’s closer to the show. When it’s further away it’s only on the weekends,” says Wiggins. Wiggins began dancing with the Minnesota Dance Theater at age four. She originally joined because her mom wanted her too, but despite not having made the first decision to join she now says, “I kept dancing because I liked it.” Wiggins says that at rehearsals they usually focus on the different dances that are performed in the play, learning them part by part.
Hartnett say the hardest part of rehearsal is “having to run through five times with no break, and when your shoes are bothering you. You have to do everything just right.” Hartnett has been dancing since she was six. “I wanted to be a soldier in the Nutcracker but never was,” says Hartnett. She has been in the Nutcracker for nine years. Her favorite part of being in the show is being backstage and after the performance.
Sophomore Audrey Franchett began Ballet in seventh grade. She was going to be in the Nutcracker along with Hartnett and Wiggins, but it conflicted with Nordic skiing. Franchett says she started ballet because it looked fun, “[it is] graceful and challenging and I like to dance.” Franchett enjoys watching dance performances and says, “it’s nice to watch people that are better than you because you get to see what you can become and you get to see what certain moves look like when they are done perfectly.”
The Nutcracker Fantasy is a Minnesota favorite. If you’ve never seen it before, this year would be a great opportunity to support our South dancers and enjoy a wonderful show.