Though The Nutcracker ballet has been enchanting children since the late 19th century, most productions of this classic work are performed by adults, with children and teenagers usually given minor roles. That is why the performance of a local dance company this holiday season is so intriguing, as their rendition of this legendary piece is focused almost exclusively on young dancers.
But first, some quick background: last year, the Linda Jamieson School of Dance celebrated its 25th anniversary of performing its youth-focused, local production of The Nutcracker. When Jamieson closed her studio this year, a group of teachers from her school opened Trio Danceworks in Kanata.
“We took over what [Linda] started with the children,” says Caleigh Garbutt, one of three directors at Trio Danceworks. “It is something special. We want our students to dance all the parts of the show, not just secondary roles.”
Parents help with costumes and sets, while almost all of the dancers are youth, ages ranging from six to 17. The only adults in the show are a sole professional dancer who plays the Snow King role and some dads of the dancers who play fathers in the party scene.
The students of Trio Danceworks will be performing two Nutcracker shows on Saturday, December 17, at the Algonquin Commons Theatre. To get a sense of what the show means to the young dancers, Apt613 interviewed three ballerinas, all of whom have played various roles over the years during the annual Nutcracker performances of the Linda Jamieson studio.
Snowflakes rehearsal. Photo: Trio Danceworks.
For Alicia Bai, 14, preparing for the ballet has allowed her to focus on her artistic expression.
“As you grow older, you learn that ballet is not a dance examination,” says Bai. “What [the audience] are really here for is to see that you are calm. [Onstage] you must have this look that this is the easiest thing in the world.”
For others, the intense schedule of regular dance classes and formal practices—the Trio Danceworks studio held eight weeks of rehearsals for the performance—allowed them to improve in other areas of their lives.
Penelope Verboven and Joshua Alcantara in snow queen and snow prince rehearsal. Photo: Trio Danceworks.
“The practices have helped me with my technique and time management,” says Penelope Verboven, 17. “[With] more rehearsals I have less time for homework… so it helps me make it a priority.”
The last two months of Verboven’s schedule have been jam-packed, with four dance classes per week plus a fifth day dedicated to Nutcracker rehearsals.
Doll dance rehearsal. Photo: Trio Danceworks.
Another busy person is Jianna Alarcon, who also had four classes weekly plus a fifth day of rehearsals. Preparing for the Nutcracker, she says, has allowed her to become comfortable in her own skin.
“When I first arrived [in the Linda Jamieson studio], I was very aware about how comfortable, about how confident people were on stage,” says Alarcon. “I definitely saw differences in both performance and ballet skills, but they did not judge me.”
This feeling of acceptance and camaraderie is something that Alarcon says she cherishes, , as it has helped her to grow both as a dancer and a person.
As for Garbutt, watching her students work together as a team—but more importantly taking the lead in producing the show—has been a pleasure.
“A really special part of our performance is that it is children-driven,” says Garbutt, who also danced in The Nutcracker when she was a student with Linda Jamieson. Now, years later, she can watch her students bring their own ballet magic to the stage.
Trio Danceworks students perform The Nutcracker at Algonquin Commons Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 17, with two shows at 1pm and 7pm. Tickets start at $38 and are available online.
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