Monday, December 7, 2009

If Ballet Were Easy, They'd Call it Football





THE NUTCRACKER




Every year since I was about 3 years old I have attended a performance of Ballet West's
Nutcracker. It has alway been a Christmas tradition for me.
I have seen it so many times that I think I could do every dance in it (at least in my head I could).
I love the music. I hear any part of the Nutcracker Suite and I get all excited.  When I am in the theater, my eyes even start to swell as the orchestra starts to play.

There have been many changes over the years and it always fun to see what is going to be new and different for the next season. Many of my friends have danced in the Nutcracker and it is always fun to watch someone you know perform. I longed to be in it someday.  I did try out twice and did not make it. The first year, I was the last girl to get cut from the auditions. Don't feel bad for me, I am over it.

When my fisrt child was a girl, I thought for sure I would see my dreams come true through her.  She took lessons and performed in some cute shows, but never the Nutcracker. Then she stopped dancing and pursued other interests. I thought my heart would break.

Then along came Noah (my third child) and he decided that he wanted to try out.  I thought, "what was the harm in trying?" He had no dance training at all. I chalked it up to being a good experience for him to tryout anyway.  I waited a little anxiously with all the other parents for the children to emerge from the auditions.
They each carried a note, some stating acceptance and, unfortunely for some, rejection.  Noah appeared with the hugest smile and low and behold Noah was going to be a party boy.






It was a long Fall for us all, as we had to take Noah downtown almost every night for rehersals and performances. There were also costume fittings, and professional photo shots.  But it was all worth it. This was a once in a lifetime experience.

Here is Noah in his offical costume:






This was the year I went all out.  I attended 4 performances.  I even sat on the very, very front row, smack dab in the middle. I was not going to miss this moment.  The music started and so did I-crying.
It was one of those "payoff" moments in a mother's life.  Noah did a perfect job. All the long hours of hard work made the experience worth it for all of us.




The rest of the performance was exciting and beautiful and fun. But on the night I sat front and center, watching Noah, that was it for me .  I was in Nutcracker heaven.
For that reason I have decided not to go back the past couple of years. That one night in December I had fullfilled a dream, even though it wasn't me dancing. I have a perfect picture in my mind of that night and I don't want to let it go.
I want it to stay perfect forever. It was magical.

I am not going this year, but I would highly recommend it to those who are able.
You will not be disappointed.  Even if you don't like the ballet you will love the Nutcracker.
for more info go here:

Until I decide to return someday, I will have a perfect memory to dream about-maybe I will even have visions of sugar plums dancing in my head.

"Dancers are the athletes of  God"
Albert Einstein







3 comments:

nano*ink said...

I remember it well too. He is sooo handsome. What a beautiful memory for everyone.

Anonymous said...

Hello. And Bye. Thank you very much.

Anonymous said...

Hello. And Bye. Thank you very much.