October 30, 2002
Parents play vital roles
Parents part of onstage cast in 'Nutcracker' productions
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Moving over soccer moms, here come the dancing dads.
Some area parents are getting hours of quality time with their children this fall as they work together on one of two upcoming area productions of the classic ballet "Nutcracker."
Filling in as parents or extras in the production's opening party scene, these adults - many of them mothers or fathers of dancers - are on stage and having a blast.
"I've never danced professionally, but I'm in it for the fun of dancing with my daughter Sarah," said Bud Solem, who plays Clara's father in the upcoming production of the "Nutcracker" by the Traverse City Youth Ballet Company. "I have been in a variety of acting roles, they definitely need adults for parts and there's not too many ways to do something with your kids."
"The young dancers are all really neat kids and it's fun to be around," noted Solem, who has previously helped in a production of "Coppeli"a with another daughter.
Tim Scheffler of Traverse City relishes the time shared with his daughter Leigh, 16, who is Rose, the lead in the waltz of the flowers in the Dance Arts Academy's production of the "Nutcracker."
"She enjoys dancing very much, it is something that we can do together," he said. "She doesn't play baseball so I can't throw the ball with her. Both my wife, Kim, and I help with this, though she is not onstage."
Grabbing a moment in the limelight equates to one part willingness and three parts logistics. With the opening performance nine days away, adult members of the Traverse City Youth Ballet Company cast are shoehorning rehearsals into their already overbooked schedules.
Juggling jobs, carpools and other adult responsibilities, they have carved out time for monthly rehearsals since last August. This month they have met weekly to perfect their parts, which includes learning three dance numbers and the fine art of party mingling while on stage.
Some moms of the dancers in this company egged each other into roles, nudging each other during their daughters' auditions and finally deciding to pitch in themselves in this unorthodox manner. They decided they had nothing to lose and it would certainly be a change from making snacks or selling advertising for programs.
The role spurred also some to study dance.
"After we decided to do this, we all took a ballet class this summer," said Brenda Wurm, who plays Clara's mother while her daughter, Olivia, 8, is an angel. "Learning the steps is not hard."
Sharon Sterrett had taken dance classes decades ago, enthusiastically studying with Meg Nutting in Traverse City. After such a long hiatus, strapping on the dance shoes was the last thing on her mind when she signed up to help with the production, in which her daughter, Ann, is an Angel.
"Ann's been helping me practice at home," said Sterrett, noting the hardest thing is both the scheduling and learning the dance steps. "You forget how much fun it is, the group makes it fun."
Across town at the Dance Arts Academy studio, rehearsals are also speeding up for their December production of the Nutcracker. This dance company, too, tapped a number of parents for help to fill adult roles.
"It is wonderful, a huge help," said Susan Heinz, co-director and co-owner of Dance Arts Academy. "All the first act dads doing this are fathers of dancers in the show."
Diann West of South Boardman nominated her husband, Bill, for a part when adults were needed. The family spends many hours at the studio anyway, often volunteering their time, so they figured helping in this manner would not be too much of a stretch.
"It's been a challenge but lots of fun, too; I'm enjoying it," said West, whose daughter, Sarah, 10, plays a girl at the party and is Clara's understudy. "It's helped me get into shape, I've lost five pounds so far. We're having a ball and practicing the dances at home."
Stage fright is not a big concern for the dancers in adult roles. Scheffler is a veteran of two past productions, including playing Mother Ginger in the "Nutcracker."
"It's both kind of a thrill and kind of scary," Scheffler said. "I can certainly see why people can get hooked on it."
The Traverse City Youth Ballet Company will present the Nutcracker on November 8, 9 and 10 at the Milliken Auditorium. For ticket information, call 995-1553. Dance Arts Academy will present the Nutcracker on December 6, 7 and 8 at the Lars Hockstad Auditorium. For ticket information, call 941-4244.