With the arrival of cooler weather and the changing of seasons, for the ballet industry, comes the arrival of Nutcracker season. A tradition century old, the Nutcracker has been performed in all kinds of places and by all kinds of people, becoming one of the most familiar and beloved holiday stories for dancers and audiences everywhere. For ABA, this is no exception, and every year we proudly present our own production of the Nutcracker, which aims to bring joy and storytelling into our own community. Following the narrative of Marie on Christmas Eve, who receives the special gift of a nutcracker at her family’s party, this ballet tells of Marie’s adventures and encounters in a beautiful dream she has, in which the nutcracker accompanies her while she meets many new characters. We strive to make each year’s Nutcracker performance better than the last, and more additions are incorporated and introduced each year. In our upcoming shows, now featuring party boys, soldiers, and a new battle scene, we hope to make our productions even more entrancing for our audiences.

A big difference that sets aside ABA’s Nutcracker performances from most others is its large range of targeted audiences for which our performances are customized. In addition to our main winter showcase, we also have traditions of senior center performances and our Mini-Nutcracker, which began just last year and is tailored for children and younger audiences. A shortened performance including only the most captivating and enchanting parts of the Nutcracker, our Mini-Nut is perfectly suited for the attentions and fascinations of smaller children. Furthermore, after the show, they are given opportunities to ask questions to the dancers themselves, take pictures with their favorite characters, and even receive small goodie bags. We greatly value this new tradition and being able to instill an appreciation and curiosity for the art form in young audiences and will hopefully continue it for many years to come.

For ABA’s productions of The Nutcracker this year, I have been casted in the role of Marie, also commonly referred to as Clara or Masha. It is a very special role not only in its execution but also in its contribution to the overall story and performance. The role of Marie is not necessarily the most difficult role technique-wise, although it undoubtedly cannot be considered easy either. Rather, the more prominent focus that comes with the undertaking of this responsibility is the ability to act and to develop a certain demeanor and character. The character of Marie acts as a bridge between spectator and performer, and between dream and reality. Marie, who experiences and observes as an extraordinary and magnificent series of events unfolds before her, must react accordingly, serving as a reflection that enhances the story and brings it to life. Of course, as with any role, in addition to embodying the character, the dancer must find ways to incorporate their own touch of interpretation and personality. Establishing balance between these two aspects is vital in creating the most ideal performance, especially for Marie, therefore it is something I intend to keep in mind as I become more acquainted with the role.

Performing as Marie this Nutcracker season is both intimidating and stimulating for me, but I’m confident that it will assist in my growth as an artist. Exploring and understanding this role will take much work, but eventually, essentially, I want to develop a character which is innocent yet courageous, which balances elegance with a sense of childishness and naivety. Achieving this demeanor can be much more complex than most may assume, but I believe that from it I will learn much about expression and also about my own self. In the past, I have observed that who I am as an artist affects who I am as a person, and vice versa. I am excited to see what I can discover about myself as an individual throughout this Nutcracker season, and how I can reflect it through my performances. Performing in the Nutcracker has been a part of my life since I was very young, and has become a part of my winter season, just as Christmas, snow, and holiday music are. It is truly one of my favorite times of the year, and I am honored to be able to share this joy and passion with others this Nutcracker season.

Elaine