Local students star in “The Nutcracker”

E.T.A. Hoffman’s “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” tells the story of a little girl named Marie who receives a Nutcracker doll from her Uncle Drosselmeyer on Christmas Eve. From there, she dreams that the Nutcracker, after vanquishing the evil Mouse King, is transformed into a handsome prince, and takes her on a journey through a land of Snowflakes, and finally, to the Kingdom of the Sweets, where the Sugarplum Fairy and her Cavalier, and many other confections, entertain her.
It is a story that has become synonymous with the holiday season, where dreams and anticipation fill the hearts and minds of countless children, and one that will be told on stage by students of the Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh.
Much like Marie’s journey from the drawing room of the Stahlbaum House to the grand ballroom of the Kingdom of the Sweets, dancers in “The Nutcracker” embark upon a journey that, while sometimes difficult, culminates in the realization of a dream come true. From the beginning of the school year in September, the anticipation begins to build as to what roles they will be chosen to perform, where the previous year’s hard work and dedication in the studio are rewarded with the chance to perform parts such as Marie, the Snow Queen or the Sugarplum Fairy.
This year’s Sugarplum Fairies – Brenna Erzen, 17, of Bethel Park; Claire Georgiadis, 16, of Mars; and Deanna Klimas, 17, of Upper St. Clair – each have a story to tell, and it begins not in September of this year, but as little girls, many years ago. “My dream came true on the day that casting was sent out and I found out that I was chosen to dance the prestigious role of the Sugarplum Fairy,” Erzen said. “There was so much excitement from knowing that all the years of hard work had paid off.”
“I remember seeing ‘The Nutcracker’ when I was a little girl and being inspired by the girl in the pink tutu,” Georgiadis said. “Here I am, years later, doing exactly what I, and every other little girl, dreamed of as a kid: to be the Sugarplum Fairy.”
“The Sugarplum Fairy is the dream role for any little ballerina. In all of my 15 years of ballet, I have never performed a more demanding role,” Klimas said. “As the day of the show approaches, the nerves begin to kick in, but once I step onto the stage I feel infinite.”
Rehearsals for “The Nutcracker” began in early October, and for the older, more advanced dancers, the studio became their second home. Most are cast in several different roles that each require their own rehearsal, and at the high school level, that requires a class and rehearsal schedule of six to seven days a week for a period of roughly 10 weeks. In the end, though, the time spent taking class and rehearsing lends itself to an enormous sense of accomplishment. Add to that the magic of the holiday season, and “The Nutcracker” is a time that the dancers and their families relish each and every year. And, once it is over, thoughts toward next year’s production begin to swirl, and the journey begins anew.
Performances of “The Nutcracker” by the Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh will be held at the Independence Middle School Theater in Bethel Park, 7 p.m. Dec. 6-7 and 4 p.m. Dec. 8. Tickets can be purchased in advance by visiting www.showclix.com, or calling 1-888-71-TICKETS. Tickets will also be available at the door prior to the performances. For more information, call 412-343-9333, or visit www.balletacademypgh.com.
Steven Piper is the Director of The Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh.