(from L) Idyllwild Arts dance students Ricardo, Maddy, Gina and Mauricio prepare to dance in "The Nutcracker" with the Inland Pacific Ballet
By Marcia E. Gawecki
For many of us, “The Nutcracker” was our first introduction into the magical world of ballet. The Nutcracker prince, the Sugar Plum Fairy, flowers, snowflakes, dolls and soldiers–every fantasy came alive through dance.
This holiday season, dance students from the Idyllwild Arts Academy will be performing “The Nutcracker” with the Inland Pacific Ballet Company. The four teenagers, Gina, Madison, Mauricio and Ricardo, tried out in September and were accepted to perform.
“We got to audition because of Jonathan,” said Mauricio, a post-graduate dance student who had performed in “The Nutcracker” in Mexico.
Jonathan Sharp is the acting head of the Dance Department at Idyllwild Arts, and a professional dancer with the Inland Pacific Ballet Company. He also teaches ballet at their academy.
“I thought it would be a good experience for the Idyllwild Arts students to dance along with professional dancers in the company,” said Jonathan, who will be among them.
Twice a week until early December, the four dance students practice along with other students from the Inland Pacific Ballet Academy in Montclair. There, they take two classes, which last about three hours each.
In their Saturday class, they were learning how maneuver a Chinese Dragon.
Wait a minute! I don’t remember a Chinese Dragon appearing in “The Nutcracker” of my youth.
“There are many different versions of ‘The Nutcracker,’” Mauricio explained. “In this one, they have a Chinese Dragon.”
Th red, yellow and black Chinese Dragon, made of wire and material, had a large head, winged ears and a laughing mouth. A tall dancer was selected as the leader who would maneuver the dragon’s head. Behind him, the dragon stretched another 25 feet, held up by seven other dancers with sticks, including the guy handling the tail.
In this class, the instructor was teaching them how to throw their sections of the dragon over their heads, while they jumped over to the other side. These movements made the dragon move. However, each dancer had to be quick and not step ahead or pull too hard on the dragon.
If they did everything right, the dragon looked like it was moving seamlessly across the stage.
“Nice feet!” the instructor yelled to Gina and Ricardo as they ran along with the other dancers. They had to exaggerate their “happy feet,” which looked like a straight-legged run.
Gina dances a modern piece during an Idyllwild Arts Student Choreography event last year
After a couple of times in which the teacher switched out the dancers, she brought them around her and gave a pep talk about the culture and dance.
“Remember, you are the dragon,” she said to them. “You are one with it.”
When the dancers laughed nervously at this comment, the instructor emphasized that they will always be visible to the audience.
“We can see your every move onstage,” she warned. “And all of the looks on your faces.”
Once the dance students got all got the twirling motions and jumping motions down, the instructor added “The Nutcracker” music to make it authentic.
At one point, the instructor showed Mauricio how to maneuver the dragon’s tail. She made slow, sweeping motions, like someone in a flag corps would do.
“I understand what she was expecting out of me,” Mauricio said. “But the other girls were pulling the dragon every which way!”
At times, the instructor would call the dance class over to look at her laptop of the Inland Ballet Company’s “Nutcracker” performance from 2010.
Although the Idyllwild Arts students are not getting paid for the nine “Nutcracker” performances held at the Bridges Auditorium and the Lewis Family Playhouse in Montclair from Dec. 3 to Dec. 18, Gina said they were fortunate.
“At least we don’t have to pay $300 to $400 dollars to be part of the production,” she said.
The dance students from the Inland Pacific Ballet Academy have to pay that amount to cover costs of their extra classes, costumes and various production costs.
Although the practice schedule is hectic and the Idyllwild Arts students must travel nearly two hours each way twice a week, they all agreed that it was worth it.
“It’s going to be really exciting to dance along with professional dancers,” Mauricio exclaimed.
Maddy, a National Honor Student and president of the senior class, made the most of her time in the school van by doing her homework.
“This is better than in my dorm room because there’s no distractions,” she said.
Looking ahead, Gina also thought it would look good on her resume when she applied for colleges.
The public performances for “The Nutcracker” by the Inland Pacific Ballet Company will be held from Dec. 3 to Dec. 8, with mostly 1 p.m. performances at the Bridges Auditorium and Lewis Family Playhouse in Montclair.
For more information, call (909) 482-1590 or visit www.ipballet.org.
Copyright 2011 Idyllwild Me. All rights reserved.
Published on: Nov 1, 2011 @ 18:33
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Nutcracker Group
