...with the Nutcracker this year, oh my!!!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all. It is again that wonderful time of year where decorations line store windows, houses, gardens, parks, and our...er.. undergarments! A spirit of joy fills the streets and a hustle and bustle happens while we all prepare with holiday shopping and gatherings. If you're a ballerina...you're also watching or performing in the Nutcracker!
I miss the gold 'old days at Eastern Connecticut Ballet where I performed almost every part in the Nutcracker throughout the years. I began as the rat and grew to snow queen, waltz of the flowers, arabian solo, spanish, merlaton, gingerbread, snow queen, and Clara's doll. What amazing memories of performing at the Garde Arts Center in New London, CT! Tech week was my favorite. Doing homework backstage in between dress rehearsals and tech rehearsals, but filled with the excitement and anticipation of the show to come.
This year I was fortunate enough to come home to Connecticut the weekend of the 3rd through the 5th of December to dress up as snow queen and the sugar plum fairy and dance in the window of North Cove Outfitters in Old Saybrook and in the Captain Stannard Inn in Westbrook, respectively. At the latter event I took photos with kids (photos above) and spoke to visitors about why our Nutcracker is unique. We have a nautical Nutcracker set in the historic whaling port or New London, Connecticut. Instead of Clara falling asleep on her bed and being carried to her dreams in Act II she travels there by boat, with the rats being pirates! There are beautiful costumes and set decoration that will make any kid's mouth hang open.
I'm looking forward to watching this year's Eastern Connecticut Ballet Nutcracker this coming weekend of the 10th and 11th of December for a little nostalgia and to get into the holiday spirit. There are two shows on Saturday (1:30 and 4:30pm) and a 1:30pm show on Sunday. Merde ECB dancers! I will be watching proudly.
Hope to see you all there!
lots of love,
Carolina the Traveling Ballerina
PS Here is an article in the Shoreline Times newspaper reporting on the Saybrook stroll and myself and other ballerinas making Nutcracker appearances in stores and store windows, plus a video of me dancing in the window! http://www.shorelinetimes.com/articles/2010/12/09/news/doc4cfe3bbcceddb046978203.txt
