Bringing a youthful energy and boundless enthusiasm, area dancers will take to the stage this weekend as part of Interlochen Arts Academy's biannual production of "The Nutcracker.”
This annual Christmas favorite opening this weekend includes 17 children — nine as party children and eight as lambs — who will join the 37 dance majors, one theater major and sprinkling of adults in the production.
"It's really fun, nothing's hard if you believe you can do it,” declared Miriam Peck, 7, a party girl in the cast.
Completely unintimidated by the large and formal venue or the age and talent differences compared to the elite high schoolers, the first grade student at Holy Angels Elementary School is having the time of her life.
"It's cool to learn from the big kids,” Peck added.
The older dancers also inspire fellow party girl Casey Sutherland, a sixth grade student at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Middle School. The veteran performer also relishes the acting required for her role, which enhances the dance steps as well as tells the story.
"I like acting because you don't always have to have one face, you can have lots of expressions,” said Sutherland, who previously performed twice in Nutcrackers put on by Dance Arts Academy. "If a step is easy, you just have more fun with it.”
Debuting Friday night for four shows, the academy has staged the Nutcracker every other year, alternating it for the past 15 years with productions of "Sleeping Beauty” and "Coppelia.” Interlochen instructor Wendy Masterson said both the school's faculty and dancers welcome and enjoy the younger dances. The whole cast becomes a family by opening night.
"They are fun!” noted Masterson of the younger dancers. "The energy and excitement that they bring invigorates the whole process.”
"These young dancers also remind many of us — the teenagers as well as the adults — of what it is like to be inspired and to dream,” she added.
The young dancers attend weekly rehearsals, at first with only their own small groups of either party children or lambs. As the show dates approach, they begin working with the older dancers until, this week, they are at the theater every evening to rehearse on stage.
The production runs like a professional company, allowing the younger dancers to gain skills at quickly picking up choreography, learning to rehearse their part on their own and creating a character unique to themselves.
"Each individual contributes something that adds to the strength of the ballet and the performances,” Masterson said.
Lamb Marleigh Bristol, a sixth grader at Glenn Loomis Elementary School, appreciates the support of the older dancers, even though it is sometimes scary to have them looking on.
"I always get really, really nervous because the Interlochen students are watching me … sometimes they clap for us and say good job,” added Bristol, who was a lamb in the show two years ago. "It's inspiring us to do better because you get to see all the older dancers.”
Another second-time lamb, Emily Parks, a fifth grade homeschool student, is more relaxed this time about her role.
"The first time, I was learning new things and this time it's pretty easy,” she said.
Selena Hurst was surprised to land the part of Fritz, a larger party child role, after September's audition call for youth dancers from the region under five feet tall. Although this is her first year with Interlochen, Hurst was previously the black lamb and a party girl in two different productions of Dance Arts Academy's Nutcracker.
"It's fun because I get to be mischievous — my favorite part is the rat scene,” she added of Fritz's naughtily dangling a rubber rat in the face of Clara, a main character.
"It's been wonderful, it's just a famous school,” added Hurst, a sixth grade student at the Grand Traverse Academy, of her Interlochen experience.
Interlochen Arts Academy presents "The Nutcracker” on Friday, December 14, at 7:30, Saturday, December 15, at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 16, at 1 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the box office at 276-7800.