Once again, ABA’s annual Nutcracker season was filled with captivating performances and exciting stories. Keeping with our traditions from previous years, we had two main performances to finish off the season: our Mini-Nut and Nutcracker Night shows. In short, the Mini-Nut is a condensed version of the Nutcracker made for younger audiences that includes only the most compelling sections of the story. Our Nutcracker Night show is our primary performance showcasing the full ballet in addition to various contemporary and character selections. While we kept many aspects of ABA tradition, several things were new to our Nutcracker productions in our most recent shows. The battle scene was one of the major highlights and new additions to our story this year, and although it was an incredibly challenging undertaking, we were able to learn much from it. Developed and performed for the first-time last season, the battle scene required devotion and patience from both the choreographer and the dancers to bring it to life. Throughout rehearsals, several versions and iterations were created, a process that we all grew from and were humbled by as we worked thoroughly through each section. The battle scene was a relatively large scene, incorporating several dancers and making it the second largest scene to the party scene. However, unlike the party scene, which is generally more natural and flowing, the battle scene follows strict formations and movement patterns that had to be carefully refined and practiced. Quick-moving and complex, working to make each step and moment precise was a formidable process that could even feel tedious at times. Nevertheless, those conditions in turn instilled in us rehearsal discipline, awareness, and adaptability to our surroundings. With the implementation of the battle scene came new props and costumes as well. Mice carrying blocks of cheese, scurrying hurriedly from place to place. Soldiers in bright red hats and uniforms, pulling cannons and horses, carrying swords and rifles. Each of these aspects played a role in immersing the audience in Marie’s dream. One of my favorite moments of the Nutcracker also takes place during the battle scene, which is a moment in which I throw a block of cheese at the mouse queen, winning the battle as the mouse queen stumbles back in retreat. In truth, at the beginning of Nutcracker season, I was a terrible cheese thrower. However, through practice and patience, I was able to hurdle that obstacle without too much difficulty. It has now become one of the most enjoyable parts of the show for me, and I am now able to look back and laugh at the times that I once had nightmares about throwing and missing my target. Overall, in my experience performing the role of Marie, I was given more freedom than other roles typically allow, because it is a role that focuses more on mime and acting rather than explicit choreography. This however also meant more responsibility was given to me, and throughout performing this role, I have learned how to harness existing movement and music to guide me in developing my character. It has taught me to listen more deeply to the music and identify small details that shape my dancing and acting; I learned to listen for key changes that indicated a change in tone, rhythms that corresponded with certain movements, and musical tools that built tension that I had to convey. In the second act, as I react on the side to the different characters that dance for me, I learned to pick out which movements to mimic and the “motifs” and specific nuances that belonged to each character.

These skills are also useful for future roles, and I am already finding ways to apply these skills to my role of the bird in our upcoming production of Peter and the Wolf, which will ultimately improve and set apart my performance from last year’s. From this unique mime-focused role, I learned many lessons as well. In the past, I have often found that I am not trusting nor confident in my abilities to act. A few years ago, I had thought that I would never be the type of person to be fitting for the role of Marie. Even when I found out about the casting at the beginning of this season, it still felt intimidating for me. I had thought that it would be a long and sophisticated process for me to truly connect, understand, and embody the character of Marie. However, the more I danced in this role, the more I began to realize that those qualities I sought already existed within myself. All of Marie’s emotions and feelings are ones I’ve felt and experienced before in some form throughout my life. I realized that I did not need to find the part of myself that existed in Marie, but rather the part of Marie that existed in myself; it was not Marie I was searching for, it was myself. And through doing so I have re-discovered that little girl inside me, who can be terrified yet daring, upset yet forgiving. And as that little girl holds tight to her Nutcracker, eyes filled with wonder, there just may be a chance that that sparkle in her eyes can create magic that lives on forever.

-Elaine