"The next thing I knew, a fake mustache was slapped on my face"

When I was about 13 years old I was taking ballet classes at a small studio in Sacramento when I met Ron Cunningham.   To add some additional ballet training to my more competition style training, Ron gave me the opportunity to dance in The Sacramento Ballet’s The Nutcracker, I had been to see it a couple times, but never thought I would be a part of it. I was cast to dance the side Russian with another boy named Harry Nelson. Little did I know that I would end up dancing every show and got really good at doing coffee grinders. I remember after a couple shows they were short a party parent and, to my surprise, I was asked to fill in. The next thing I knew, a fake mustache was slapped on my face and I was paired up with a tall beauty named Carole Youngjohn. My ad libbing and following along skills were surely put to the test.  I remember watching in awe as all the professional dancers acted and felt so comfortable on stage while I was dragged around and told what to do.   I eventually felt better doing it and have been a party parent for over 20 years now.  I have to say the most special moments for me were playing the Nutcracker with Ron Cunningham as Uncle Drosselmeier. I learned a lot from his acting skills and use them in my own Drosselmeier performances now. I can't really remember any funny stories except for the usual trying to look elegant and not falling off Snow Sled, people slipping on dry ice fog, and people getting injured and limping of stage (Kirsten).  Oh wait, there was the famous Nutcracker tour to Victoria, Canada! We really didn't have enough dancers for all the parts so there were stage hands in mouse costumes and, as the Nutcracker, the mice lift you around.  Well, they weren't very experienced or good at lifting and ended up dropping me and I broke my toe. Lucky enough I didn't miss any shows because there was a huge snow storm and we all got snowed in. The rest of the tour was one big snowed in party and I limped around and enjoyed myself.  The end!

Jared Nelson

Principal Dancer

Washington Ballet