The Nutcracker is a holiday story told each year, but this season Company Dance Traverse is putting its own twist on the timeless production.
Sarah Wolff, a professional dancer with over 10 years of experience, has been coming to Company Dance Traverse for 24 years – since she was just 6 years old. Sarah says she has been in the performance more times than she can count.
“I think everyone can identify with coming together over the holidays,” she says. “No matter where you’re from or what you believe in, or lack thereof, I think people love to celebrate the joy of music and dance and coming together. It keeps you warm.”
Sue Buck, the Co-Director of Company Dance Traverse, says seeing her students twirling and leaping up on stage is just as special 23 seasons later and loves her job.
“For me sharing with the children keeps my heart beating,” she says. “I mean, to walk in and see what is taking place is a gift.”
The time and energy put into this performance has been pretty demanding, but everyone at this dance company seems to agree once the lights come on and the curtain opens, it’s time to shine.
“It’s been a 14 week process, rehearsal process and some of them have been here 7 days a week,” says Betsy Carr, the Artistic Director at CDT.
Sarah Wolff, who is the Ballet Mistress at this dance company and gets to dance alongside her students throughout the performances, says the performance is “emotional and overwhelming in all the right ways,”
But perfecting their plies and tendus isn’t the only thing they’ve learned.
Katherie Kiessling, a junior in high school, says “I’ve learned how to be confident in myself and speak up and like figure out who I am as a person and who I want to become.”
It’s a bittersweet moment when the curtain closes for the final time and their ballet shoes and tu-tus are tucked away, since these performances might be some of the dancers’ last.
“It’s amazing and I really don’t want it to end, but my family will be with me and they’ve been so supportive and I’m just so grateful for this experience,” Katherie says.
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