"I can’t imagine not dancing it."

The Nutcracker is something American ballet companies do every year; it is something ballet dancers have seen and taken part in from an early age.  Naturally, after years of performances it becomes repetitive.  However, as dancers mature and polish their skills there’s always an excitement and anticipation about what roles you may be dancing each new year. 

Lauryn Winterhalder as Clara in Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre's
The Nutcracker in 2001 (Photo by: Bari Miller)

I performed The Nutcracker at my home studio in Santa Cruz, Ca from the age of eight to seventeen.  I danced many roles over the years: Party Child, Saltwater Taffy, Clara, Chinese Child, Ribbon, Garland, Snow Corps, Flower Corps, Snow Queen, Arabian, Peppermint Candy Cane  Marzipan, and Dew Drop Fairy. After ten years, Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre’s version became natural to me.  When I left home to dance with Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Professional Division, Kent Stowell’s The Nutcracker seemed very foreign.  In Stowell’s version, there is added music (Mozart), a company member dances the role of Clara, the sets are designed by Maurice Sendak, the costumes are fabulous and the whole ballet has an Asian theme - no Russian dance, no Marzipan, no Spanish, and no Arabian! Now, don’t get me wrong, it is a great version, but it was nothing like the one I grew up with and performed for ten years. 

After a year in Seattle, I moved to Ohio to dance with the Cincinnati Ballet.  At CB, I performed Val Caniparoli’s The Nutcracker, the third version of The Nutcracker in my repertoire (under my belt?).  In Caniparoli’s version, all the dancers in Act II are dolls and Marie (Clara) is danced by a company member who also dances Snow Queen and Sugar Plum Fairy.  Again, a fantastic version and outrageous costumes but nothing like home. 

Three years ago, I moved to back to California to dance with Sacramento Ballet and I now dance in Ron Cunningham’s The Nutcracker.  My childhood ballet teachers used to dance for Ron, Carinne at Sacramento Ballet, and Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre’s version of The Nutcracker is influenced by Ron’s version.  I am finally able to dance a professional Nutcracker that feels like home/natural?!  Although the two versions are not exactly the same, they are very similar. Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre still uses old costumes that they purchased from Sacramento Ballet! 

Even though ballet dancers perform The Nutcracker every year, I can’t imagine not dancing it.  The Nutcracker is a vital part of ballet history and has been a big part of my life for fifteen years.  I am so glad to be performing Ron Cunningham’s The Nutcracker in celebration of his 25^th Anniversary Season and cannot wait to see what the 2012-13 year has in store for me!

Lauryn Winterhalder

"now it's my turn to inspire all the little ones"

I walked out of the studio door last Saturday from a full company and student run through of the Waltz of the Flowers to the best surprise a dancer could ask for.  A little girl named Parker handed me a drawing of the two of us along with a note about how she "very much enjoyed my dansing."  Moved beyond words I gave her a hug and told her that I would immediately hang it up in my dressing room spot where it has made me smile everyday since.  I was moved because I was once that little girl.  As a child, the company members of the Sacramento Ballet were my heroes and I wanted to be just like them "when I grew up."  Everything about them was magical to me and no other ballet more fully showcased that then the Nutcracker.  The dancers took me to another land where magic came to life and dreams became reality.  It never really matter what role I had, I just wanted to be part of it and surround myself with these awe-inspiring people.  Now, in my 8th season as a professional with the company and approaching my 18th year performing in this production of the Nutcracker I am humbled by the thought that now it's my turn to inspire all the little ones out there.  I can't wait to show them that dreams do come true.  Parker's drawing reminded me that I fell in love with dance because it was a source of inspiration and an outlet for passion.  Performing in the Nutcracker annually is like returning to my roots and I do it for all the kids out there that dream big.

Alexandra Cunningham

Nutcracker Cast: Amy Seiwert (Marzipan)
Kirsten Bloom (Sugar Plum Fairy)
Bridget Baker (Spanish)
Jared Nelson (Nutcracker)
Alexandra Cunningham (Clara)
Dallas Lundquist (Snow King) 

I had no idea how Ron and Carinne would impact my life the day I started work with Sacramento Ballet.

Ron Cunningham as Dr. Drosselmeyer
(photo by Kyle Lemoi)

As I reflect on my time with Sacramento Ballet many wonderful memories come to mind.. If I had to pick one of the most inspiring moments it would be the Transition Scene in The Nutcracker. To see Ron's portrayal of Drosselmeyer is fun and a very moving experience. Ron always gave all he had to this role. Which in turn inspired me to do the same in my roles. Ron's passion and love of the theater inspired me beyond words.

Another memory was the impending question from on stage at the theater, who's teaching warm-up? And suddenly from a distance..........heels? clogs? Dr. scholls? Get ready to be Bindisized! Here we go!  (note from SacBallet: this is in reference to Carinne Binda teaching Company Class on-stage at the Theater prior to a performance. She is an amazing teacher and gets them very well warmed up for their performances...and usually does so in non-ballet shoes. Her feet are amazingly arched and lovely to watch, even in clogs.)

I had no idea how Ron and Carinne would impact my life the day I started work with Sacramento Ballet. There is not one day that goes by or one class I teach that I don't think about these two wonderful human beings.

A few words that sum up Nutcracker for me are; Fred Shadle's smile, Teresa's candies, sharing a dressing room with Lynlee, fighting with Kirsten on stage during a Marzipan run-through. Spanish with Luis.......ouch!. Watching Lynlee slide down Rome in Arabian, Kirsten crawling off stage in Flowers, Michael Johnson's sixty five cross-overs in act one. The list goes on and on. 

Natalee Pecorelli, Col. Fred Shadle and Marla Quinn

Andrea Gaudet

SacBallet the happiest days of my dancing career..."

The first memory that comes to me of dancing in Ron's Nutcracker is from the '93'94 season. There was a beautiful dancer, Lisa Spinella....a New Yorker with a very tender heart , but a high wit and a quick tongue, not to mention million dollar legs and feet :)

After the matinees, we did Q & A with the children in the audience. Lisa had danced Grand Pas that afternoon, and a young girl asked her..."Do you  ever make mistakes on stage, and what do you do if you mess up?"

Lisa, with her Brooklyn tone, promptly replied..."We don't mess up ~ we COVER up!!

I've told the story to my students for years!

Audrey Elwood ...Sac Ballet the happiest days of my dancing career...major Binda disciple.

"Moment after moment of sheer glee, excitement, hard work, accomplishment, camaraderie and applause."

Jenny Gilmore as Clara

The memory of Ron Cunningham yelling in my first Nutcracker audition "Run like you're a cockerspaniel  with your ears flapping in the wind behind you!!"  is one that to this day gives me butterflies in my stomach remembering just how FUN and absolutely free that felt.  I remember running as fast (and as gracefully as my 10 year old legs could) and throwing my head back and just LOVING that moment and not wanting it to end and hoping he saw just how much I loved it and how much I wanted to be the best cockerspaniel in the room!  I was very fortunate to not only be cast but to be cast as Clara that year.  I would never have been able to predict that I would be blessed with so many more moments like that over the 8 years of performing Ron's Nutcracker and that feeling of wanting the be the best in the room would never change as long as I was in the rehearsal studio with him. That  first audition was so appropriate because he made the little dancers put the peddle to the meddle- looking back I see what an appropriate introduction of what working for Ron would be like and that's what made my growing up years feel special, brilliant and full of incredible moments and memories.  Moment after moment of sheer glee, excitement, hard work, accomplishment, camaraderie and applause. I can't describe the impact Ron Cunningham's Nutcracker has had on my life- I grew up in The Nutcracker- from Clara to Snow Queen I went from a little girl to a mature dancer and loved every single moment of it.  Every prologue, party scene, battle scene, my first time in a tutu with Marzipan and dancing with my twin brother as Fritz and Clara- and that's just a handful of why it was so amazing. I wish every little girl could experience the feeling of being hoisted up on Drosselmeyer's shoulders and in front of an audience and live music make that tree grow! And to turn around to applause with your parents in the audience- that is an incredible experience for a little girl and Ron has blessed so many little dancers with moments like that of their own on stage.  I cheers to many many more years of his wonderful Nutcracker - 

Jenny Gilmore

Jenny Gilmore

"made me realize that I might want to become a professional ballet dancer when I grew up."

  When I think of Sacramento Ballet's Nutcracker, I am filled with joyful and happy memories.  I first auditioned to be a part of the production in 1996, when I was 12, and was fortunate enough to be cast as Clara.  I remember the feeling I had when I realized I had actually gotten the part I had dreamed of getting, and still today, get that thrilling butterflies-in-the-stomach tingle thinking about it.  The rehearsal process was exciting.  I got to work with a real professional company, meet the beautiful professional dancers, learn the new steps, and be taught choreography by the director himself.  The performances were just as exciting and exceeded my expectations.  It was being on that stage and being a part of Sacramento Ballet's production that made me realize that I might want to become a professional ballet dancer when I grew up.

Photo by: Jeff Resta

Dancers Carolyn Judson and Lucas Priolo
in The Nutcracker by Texas Ballet Theater

I am now a ballet dancer for Texas Ballet Theater and every year that we do our Nutcracker I am reminded of my very first one in Sacramento.  It's fun to watch the children involved in our production dance in their first Nutcrackers and think about how they might turn out to be professional ballet dancers, looking back on the beginning of their careers too.  I will forever be grateful to Ron, Carinne, and the dancers who were all a part of Sacramento Ballet's Nutcracker and made some of my first ballet experiences so special.  Ron, congratulations on 25 great years with the Sacramento Ballet.  Thank you for the amazing memories!

Love,

Carolyn Judson

It's A Family Thing: "We Thought It Would Be a Good Experience For Them"

Laura Westerman ~ Mother to Nutcracker participants Andrew, Claire, Luke, Patrick, and Jack Westerman

     Six years ago, we were brand new to the Sacramento area.  Michele Stomick worked with my husband at the time and mentioned to him about The Nutcracker audition.  We had a baby at the time, so my husband agreed to take three of our children to the audition.   We had no idea what this was all about (my son wore sweats and tennis shoes to audition), and we for sure didn't think any of our children would get a part.  We were simply doing this because we thought it would be a good experience for them.

The many faces of the hopeful young dancers at
The Nutcracker Children's Cast Auditions

Well, each of them came home with parts!  We were shocked and overjoyed.

  

The next five years, we were fortunate enough to participate in The Nutcracker.  It became a huge part of our lives.  We would look forward to auditions (and all of us would have butterflies in our tummy's :), we learned about the ballet world, we invited our extended family to a Nutcracker performance and would host our "Nutcracker Party" before or after the show.  We started our collection of Nutcrackers (big ones, small ones, chocolate ones,  Nutcrackers on plates, towels,  we have a nutcracker nightlight, cookie cutters, doormat, etc......) 

After performing in their second Nutcracker, our children (three sons and one daughter) asked for ballet lessons.  I said no.  I tried (in vain) to explain to them that "being part of a professional production is great fun, but ballet technique class is not fun~ it's boring".

  

They were persistent.  

I saw a coupon for a free trial class in Roseville (where we lived). They attended ballet class.  

They loved it.  

They LOVED TECHNIQUE CLASS!!!!

  

It turns out they have pretty good bodies and feet, they have a passion for dance, and they enjoy it more than anything else.

Sacramento Ballet's Nutcracker was the introduction of ballet into our family's life....we now own several books on ballet, we own several ballet's on DVD.  My husband and I had never heard of Flames of Paris, Le Corsaire,  or Paquita!!!!  

Ultimately, Sacramento Ballet and Mr. Cunningham changed our whole life course...... we NEVER thought we would have dancing children....especially four boys that love ballet.  

Our children were recently accepted into Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy......so we decided to move to Houston.  We never thought we would be living in Houston.  

We cannot imagine what our lives would be like now without dance....without ballet.  Our lives have become richer and we owe this to Mr. Cunningham.  Thank you for introducing children to this beautiful art form.  Thank you for personally touching our lives.  

Andrew Westerman  (age 15)

My Thoughts About Sacramento Ballet's Nutcracker

     The Nutcracker was my first time seeing real dance.  It made me want to dance when I saw all the male dancers and all the tricks and partnering that they got to do.  I had a lot of fun learning the party scene with all the dancing, acting, and pantomime. I really liked wearing all the costumes and stage makeup. It was really cool to see what it was like backstage with all the lights and props.  I also made some good friends through nutcracker.  The Nutcracker was the starting point for my dance training.  I have been dancing for almost 4 years now, and just got back from my first summer intensive with Ballet West, where I got a full scholarship to their 8 week program. I am now in Houston where I am going to begin training with the Ben Stevenson Academy this year.

Claire Westerman (age 13)

        I totally loved all the different roles I had in the Nutcracker~Baby Mouse, Mother Ginger Child, Party Girl but most especially, Clara! First of all, I didn't even know what a ballet audition was like until I went to one at Sac. Ballet. During the shows I had lots of new experiences: I had my first quick change, I got to take a bow up front at the end of the show, I saw what it was like to give out autographs. I especially loved seeing all the 'Special Effects' for the ballet. The Nutcracker was my favorite show that I've ever performed!

Luke Westerman (age 11) 

Patrick Westerman as "Kilt Boy" (L)
Luke Westerman as "Fritz" (R)
The Nutcracker, 2011

I really enjoyed being able to play so many different roles every time I made The Nutcracker auditions.  My favorite role to play was Fritz!  I loved doing all of the acting for him.  My favorite part of doing The Nutcracker was performing onstage  with the live orchestra and all of the lights.  After dancing in The Nutcracker, I loved dance and now I watch famous ballet dancers on YouTube all the time.  I was so excited to be able to dance at Lincoln Center in April.  Some of my favorite ballet dancers have performed there like Angel Corella, Ivan Vasiliev, and Mikhail Baryshnikov.

I never would have known about dance and ballet if I didn't audition for the Sacramento Nutcracker and get a part.

Patrick Westerman (age 10)

The little "Cooks" wait their turn to go onstage

The things I liked about The Nutcracker were the costumes, the dancing, being with other boys my age, using props on stage and partnering.  My favorite costume I wore was the cook costume with the chef hat. I was so happy when I was kilt boy because there were extra dancing parts for me.  I liked meeting other boys that dance, especially the party boys. I'm going to miss being in the Nutcracker this year.

Jack Westerman (age 8)

I was a cook the first year and liked going on stage carrying a HUGE plum pudding.  The second year I was a Mother Ginger child and loved crawling under the big skirt.  I thought it was cool that I did a cartwheel.  I never knew how to do one before.