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Local Arvada dancer to perform in The Nutcracker

Contributed by: Stephany Pobrislo on 12/2/2008

A charming prince, falling snow, the Land of Sweets and a Sugarplum Fairy are only part of what make The Nutcracker one holiday tradition that transcends generations and keeps audiences coming back year after year. For many, the highlights of the entire production are the youngest cast members in the smallest roles.

Emma Weeks of Arvada will be dancing the role of Party Girl in the Party Scene of Act I in this year's production. She will be among 90 students from the Academy of Colorado Ballet South and Central locations to perform in this year's production.

Including children in The Nutcracker has been an integral part of Colorado Ballet's annual holiday production for years.

"The Nutcracker wouldn't be the same without the students," said Leslie Morton Justi, director of Colorado Ballet's South Academy. "Every child that comes to see the production can relate to our students on the stage. It also speaks to our Academies' objective to give our students as many professional experiences as possible."

The Nutcracker is the perfect ballet to incorporate young dancers, as it has various small roles. The cast for one performance alone involves 35-40 youth dancers, and roles range from Angels and Party Girls and Boys, to Soldiers and Mother Ginger's Legs.

"This is a great opportunity for young dancers," said Director of Colorado Ballet's Central Academy Michelle Dolighan-Rodenbeck. "Most professional companies like to integrate children in this production because it gives aspiring dancers a chance to experience the 'behind-the-scenes' atmosphere with costume fittings, strenuous rehearsals and multiple performances."

Neither Morton Justi nor Dolighan-Rodenbeck are strangers to The Nutcracker, having performed principal roles in Colorado Ballet's setting of the iconic ballet for many years. This year's turnout for auditions was the largest they've ever seen, with more than 100 students participating.

Before auditioning, students must meet certain criteria. They must be actively enrolled in either one of Colorado Ballet's Academies at the time of the auditions and, because of costumes, must meet certain height requirements.

"The company owns the costumes for The Nutcracker and has built several over the years, but each costume is constructed for a certain height," said Carol Bargery, wardrobe supervisor for Colorado Ballet. "The high cost and time required to develop our costumes prevents us from creating new ones each year. Therefore, even if students have the technique and skill level, the existing costume height may dictate whether or not they are cast in the production."

Once casting is complete, the fun begins. Rehearsals get underway, final costume fittings are held and the students get a chance to partake in the making of a professional ballet.

"The students work so hard during rehearsals and offer such a high level of commitment to be part of this production. Organizing and staging the students requires a tremendous amount of time and work for everyone involved," Dolighan-Rodenbeck said. "But it is a job with great rewards. To see young dancers succeeding with confidence on stage at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in front of so many people is a wonderful feeling of accomplishment for everyone."

The incredible amount of time and commitment from The Nutcracker's youngest dancers, coupled with the excitement they get from performing in a professional production, proves that the smallest roles truly make The Nutcracker the classic it is.

Performance Schedule and Ticketing Information for The Nutcracker:
Saturday, Nov. 29 at 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 30 at 2:00 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 7 at 2 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 20 at 2 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 21 at 2 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 22 at 1 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 22 at 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 23 a 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 23 at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 24 at 1 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 27 at 2 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Ticket Prices range from $19 - $145
To purchase tickets for The Nutcracker please call 303-837-8888, send an e-mail to info@coloradoballet.org or visit Colorado Ballet's Web site at www.coloradoballet.org <http://www.coloradoballet.org> .

About Colorado Ballet
Under the direction of Artistic Director Gil Boggs, Colorado Ballet's dancers come from all parts of the world. Established in 1961 by Lillian Covillo and Freidann Parker, Colorado Ballet is a nonprofit organization presenting superior quality classical ballet and innovative dance through performances, training and education programs that enhance the cultural life of the community. For more information, visit www.coloradoballet.org <http://www.coloradoballet.org> .


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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Stephany Pobrislo

Denver , CO

Stephany Pobrislo has posted 11 stories and 0 comments since joining on 10/6/2008. Stephany Pobrislo 's average story rating is 5.
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