Step into the world of Nutcracker beyond the spotlight with our exclusive feature, which offers a glimpse into the important place this ballet holds in the lives of so many dancers, their favorite onstage and offstage memories, and the festive traditions that they look forward to every year. In this edition, hear from Ballet RI Company Dancers Jackson Calhoun, Emma Guertin, Audrey Lukacz, Tara McCally, and Anna Lisa Wilkins; and Apprentices Anjali Hern, Jayden Towers, and Adele Walden.
Select a topic tab to read the dancers’ stories and insights.
How old were you when you saw The Nutcracker for the first time? Did you see the ballet before you performed in it?
Jackson Calhoun: I was about eight years old when I first saw the production and when I was about 12 years old, I got the opportunity to perform in it.
Emma Guertin: I was dancing in The Nutcracker before I even knew what it was, at the age of four. The first time I saw a real company perform The Nutcracker I was in the 4th grade on a school field trip to see the National Ballet of Canada.
Anjali Hern: I first saw The Nutcracker at about four or five years old, and performed in my first Nutcracker as a mouse the following year!
Audrey Lukacz: I believe I was either 12 or 13 when I saw The Nutcracker live. I was performing Clara in my home studio’s Nutcracker and my parents took my sisters and I to see Boston Ballet perform. It was the most magical experience. It made the holiday so special and it also made me want to pursue dancing professionally that much more.
Tara McCally: Three and it was before I performed it.
Jayden Towers: I was ten when I first saw The Nutcracker, but I shockingly first performed it with Ballet RI in 2023!
Adele Walden: I first saw The Nutcracker when I was six and it was about a year before I first performed in it.
Anna Lisa Wilkins: Four years old—it was my first introduction to ballet and it was magic.
What’s your favorite Nutcracker memory, on stage or off?
JC: When my dear classmates and I would play UNO until the 5-minute call during our time at UNCSA.
EG: I remember being absolutely obsessed with The Nutcracker. We got videos every year that I performed it, so I would pop in the DVD, close the door to my living room and learn every single role. To this day, I still have my very first Nutcracker choreography drilled into my brain and find myself doing the choreography from time to time. Nutcracker was my first ever performance onstage as the little party girl and I fell in love with performing instantly.
AH: I always love huddling up with my fellow dancers in the wings and feeling their energy before stepping onstage.
AL: Last season was my 5th season with Ballet RI, and we always have a very large kids cast perform in our production of The Nutcracker. I teach in our school, and last year I took on setting one of the children’s roles. I think as much as I love performing, seeing the joy and pride those kids felt after hours of rehearsals and getting to dance onstage with a professional company, that feeling is pretty unmatched.
TM: Yury Yanowsky’s snow corps is absolutely my favorite version to do and watch!
JT: My favorite Nutcracker memory was performing the snow scene for the first time. It felt so magical dancing in the snow! My favorite memory offstage is jamming to Christmas music in the dressing room with the gals!
AW: Spending breaks between shows with my friends and fellow dancers.
ALW: Cheering on friends from the wings. It’s one of the few productions that everyone is in, and it gives us an opportunity to really admire our fellow dancers.
What’s your dream Nutcracker role?
JC: Rat King!!
EG: In the 21 years I have been in The Nutcracker, I have ended up doing almost all of the roles except for being a little mouse, and that was always my dream. As I got older, I did perform as the Sugar Plum Fairy but skipped right over Snow Queen; I finally got to perform it in 2022.
AH & TM: Dewdrop Fairy.
AL: I dance Spanish every year and I love that role. I also have always loved Snow Queen. I think honestly Clara is a dream role; our company uses kids for that role but part of me always thinks, “I’m short enough. I can pass for a kid onstage!” I just love the acting and the storyline for Clara.
JT & AW: Snow Queen.
ALW: Dew Drop has always felt very personal to me. It was the first thing I danced at Ballet RI and I got to be part of the choreographic process. Still feels like a dream to dance every time!
What’s your favorite holiday song?
JC: “Dance of the Reed Flutes.”
EG: “Mele Kalikimaka” by Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters.
AH & JT: “The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole.
AL: In a celebratory, “The holidays are here” way, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” And then in a more serious way, “White Christmas” and “The Christmas Song.”
TM & AW: “Mary, Did You Know?” by Pentatonix.
ALW: Gotta be Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” Classic.
What’s a holiday indulgence or ritual you look forward to every year?
JC: My whole family being together.
EG: The ritual I look forward to most is the magic of Nutcracker bringing the beautiful high spirits we get from the audience and my fellow co-workers. It’s really a special time of year.
AH: My mother’s Cuban feast on Christmas Eve.
AL: I look forward to decorating my apartment for the holidays. I set up the weekend after Thanksgiving, and I always say it’s because when we are in the theater for weeks for The Nutcracker, I don’t get to fully enjoy the decorations, so that’s my justification for putting them up probably too early!
TM: Outdoor Christmas lights and snow!
JT: My mom’s Christmas pudding.
AW: Hot chocolate and apple pie on Christmas!
ALW: My mom always cooks a huge Christmas Eve feast—she does the full seven fishes Italian thing—and we just hang out all evening. Some great memories and laughs were had, and I look forward to it every year.
ABOUT THESE ARTISTS
To learn more about Jackson, Emma, Anjali, Audrey, Tara, Jayden, Adele, and Anna Lisa, click here >>
Featured Image: Ballet RI in The Nutcracker. Photo by Kelsey Paff 2024.
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