i owe you a nutcracker story
Maybe not but you’re getting one…
An epiphany:
As I sit sewing and preparing two sets of pointe shoes for my performances set to begin a mere two weeks from today, my spine lifts a smidge straighter. A realization of how little I share my dancer life with you flits through my thoughts.
…nutcracker seems the most appropriate time to sneak you backstage for a peek behind the magic.
Ahh, the crooked halo suits me oh so perfectly. Don’t you think?
Shortly before performing in one of my first Nutcrackers, I got a haircut. Laughable, I know. There’s an adorable pic of me backstage in a line of angels as I adoringly look at my candle, bobby pins strain against gravity, jaunted at all angles, slicked with hair gel. It’s not that we didn’t know better, it’s that we thought my hair would grow out in time. I’ve never had bangs since and probably never will again. The audience would never have noticed this despite the frown lines I added to my director’s face.
Standing backstage affords you in on the secrets; how all the chaos comes together seconds before the curtain parts or lifts, how the tricks that make the audience gasp work as illusions that fool even the keenest mind, and how hard the seemingly effortless steps by the dancers truly are to perform. Because we dancers are in on the scoop it may seem there is little to no magic for us to feel this time of year. Welcome to myth #1. That simply isn’t true since we create the magic.
Sharing the magic > watching the magic unfold. When you are the magic for someone one else, say an audience that gasps in surprised delight, no greater elation exists. When you know the snow will fall to evoke a snow globe atmosphere or the Nutcracker coming to life to save the night will delight children and adults alike, you tend to bask in the moments. Ok yes, feet are throbbing, calves are numb, lungs are burning, and cheek muscles ache to maintain the happy onstage vibes.
However, it all amps up a sense of joy within you somehow overriding the pain, the sweat, the endless hours spent beforehand in the studio. Oh! The backstage door is unlocked now. Ready for your little tour?
Pointe shoes: a ballerina’s greatest instrument.
While I demonstrate a warmup class to you as the beginning of the tour, enjoy the three pictures above highlighting the various stages that pointe shoes experience in their lifecycle. From left to right: brand new and in need of ribbons and elastics to be sewn on, jet gluing to prolong the life for rehearsals and performances, and in action on the feet.
A warmup class and rehearsal time ensures the pointe shoe pair choice for a performance was the right one. Well, ideally. Enough about me, you want in on the magic. Let’s head to the dressing rooms to feel the costumes and see where we apply makeup to be seen on stage under bright lights. Thick layers must be applied in order to prevent glares or shiny skin. Costumes are strapped on, hairpieces pinned in, and it’s go time.
Life’s a dream…
…it is indeed.
A deep breath, a squeeze of my partner’s hand, a nod towards each other and we walk onto stage together. This moment is the indescribable magic of theatre: the chemistry between you and your partner working in sync to enjoy this dance under the glare of lights in a hushed theatre with the music building into a crescendo. The feel of the stage, the energy of the space you occupy on it, and the dream you are swirling through. Nothing compares.
Ralph and LK performing the grand pas de deux in the Nutcracker
Before, after, and between shows there’s always a bit of lag time for backstage shenanigans! And that’s what you really wanted to know about. Am I right or am I right? Yes, dancers goof off, make jokes about the mishaps on stage and/or costume fails, and help each other with makeup/costumes/hairpieces/life advice.
Sometimes quick changes cause tension and sometimes injuries pull everyone together more closely. The air is spicy and sweet, filled with dreams rising and falling. That’s all a part of the backstage magic with the people in the cast making the time together into unforgettable memories.
When the curtains close, a vibration of accomplishment akin to a runner’s high but more pronounced lifts into the flyspace above the stage. An indescribable feeling that the impossible was attained, that you escaped unscathed yet somehow also better, stronger, more like yourself.
Then after the show, no matter how exhausted, I greet friends and family that came out to watch me perform. It’s the sweetest gesture and I am always appreciative of their love and support. This also brings me a feeling of joy and a sense of sharing the magic stage performances provide to communities.
Sugar Plum Fairy circa 2010
Friends bring charisma and charm to the experience, providing a much needed boost of energy for every show.
Sugar Plum Fairy 2022
The support of fellow dancers is always meaningful and heartfelt.
The After Effect
Unsurprisingly, shows take quite a toll on dancers.
Well, how did I do convincing you that not all the magic is for the audience alone?
A little extra beyond the stage:
Sometimes dancers are pegged for outreach and this takes a multitude of formats. Showing up at the theatre before dawn to perform on the morning news, attending crafting events for children, posing for pictures at tea time or in the front lobby, and other options that artistic directors conjure up is an expected part of the job.
The photos above show how I often obliged those directors when asked to be the face of the company out in the community. On the left I pose as Sugar Plum for Nashville Ballet and in the picture on the right I am a snowflake for Alabama Ballet figuring out how to assemble a Rudolf Christmas decoration with a friend dressed in the Waltz of Flowers costume. As a naturally early riser, I performed for the news while dancing for Alabama Ballet and often spent pre-show hours posing for pictures with children. School shows were especially invigorating!
Finally, a few goodies for the road:
Nauti Nutcracker
I hope you find time to be both naughty and nice this season! ;-)
It even showcases his side eye!
Oddly, I’ve never invested in Nutcrackers to adorn my own spaces. Maybe this is a sign?