The Dancing Snowflakes. In a world of winter-wonderland, traditional winter treats and items come to life in The Nutcracker. In this scene, dancing snowflakes make way for the Queen’s arrival in an elegant procession.
Behind the Scenes of the Sawnee Ballet Theater’s Nutcracker
Her heart is racing, and butterflies are fluttering in her stomach. The cold wind from the AC backstage is the only thing keeping her cool. She jumps repeatedly in place, her pointe shoes silently tapping the ground. The audience cheers for the last act. Without thinking, a red lipped smile masks her anxiousness. The sweet sound of her shoes against the marley flooring along with the music for the Waltz of the Snowflakes begins to fill the auditorium. All her hard work has paid off.
The Sawnee Ballet Theater is putting on its 27th annual Nutcracker Performance this holiday season, and South Forsyth High School’s Performing Arts Center is the honorable host. The company was founded in 1991 by Joan Kall Stewart, and since then, they have put on prestigious performances such as Swan Lake, Peter and the Wolf, and, of course, the famous Nutcracker Ballet. This year, I had the opportunity to go behind the curtain and into the world of day-long practices, tireless hours of perfecting steps, and dedication to the studio and the performance itself. The show will be December 14-16 at South Forsyth’s PAC.
Chinese Tea in the Land of Sweets. One of the most memorable props in the performance is the Chinese dragon with its fireball. Made completely by the directors, this dragon is moved by the 5 “Tea Biscuits” and led on stage by the “Dragon Tamer”, making this act colorful, ethnic, and fun.
Over my weekends for the past month, I was invited into the studio to see how the rehearsals worked. The dancers would arrive as early as 7:30 am, some still in pajama pants. They would stretch themselves on their own in the dark studios, and then they would begin. In each room of the studio, different acts were taking place. In one room, the snow scene would rehearse. Another held battle scene, and another for one of the variations. When I was brought into this remarkable process of creating the show, I not only saw what true hard work and dedication looked like, but I also was entering a close-knit family that supports each other in their work. No matter what part they had, they all respected each other and took pride in each other’s piece of the performance.
Snow Queen in her Realm. Dancer Bella Bruno plays the Snow Queen. When Clara and the Prince arrive in the forest, the snow queen and her snowflakes welcome their guests with a spectacular variation.
Soon, I will be able to watch the dancers perform in the theater. For countless hours, the cast will go through markings on the stage, change from costume to costume, and wrangle the children in the party scene to their correct places backstage. Between scenes, I will get a chance to speak with some of the dancers, young and old, on their opinions of the show and what it’s like to be a part of the Sawnee Ballet Theater family. Be on the lookout for a video with interviews from cast members, directors and costume designers coming in December.
The Pirouette Princess. Dancers Brady Willis (Nutcracker Prince) and Bella Bruno (Snow Queen) take part in a supported pirouette. This is when the female dancer will perform multiple turns while the male dancer spins her waist and keeps her up. This move is the pinnacle part of the Pas De Deux.
