The Nutcracker...Pure Torture!

Oh, boy. Do you guys know how hard it is for me to see the emails regarding CDT (Children's Dance Theater) auditions and not be able to go to them???? Pure, pure, pure torture. I am dying, dying, DYING to be in The Nutcracker again. (I keep, keep, keep repeating things three, three, three times. Help, help, help! I can't stop, stop, stop!)

I miss everything: the beautiful costumes, the fun rehearsals with friends...even staying up until 11:00 p.m. to practice the night before the show. AAUUGHHH!!!!!!! I might go INSANE if I don't somehow get to perform in The Nutcracker again!!!!!!

Okay. Now that I've got that off my chest, I can act like a more reasonable and sane person. Sorry about all that, people. I loved being in CDT every year. Here are some fond memories about it:

In 2006 (the last year I was ever in The Nutcracker *sniff*), I was a wind-up doll. I wore a red tutu that stuck out in the back and was droopy in the front. Katie Low's tutu was the exact opposite. Anyway, we had these red felt stickers on our cheeks that were supposed to make us look more like a doll. They made my face itch.

I remember during rehearsal one day, something wasn't working - I don't remember what it was - and to help pass the time, I played with some of the little boy party guests. They opened up my cardboard box and stuff like that. But on the performance...

One little boy, named Shane, asked an older boy named Joey if he could open my box. I felt nervous. What if Shane opened the box...? Luckily, Joey told him not to, and he didn't. Phew!

I remember the 2005 season as well. I was the super-rush-costume change girl during the party scene. It all happened this way: I was assigned the role of an elf. During August, the only rehearsals scheduled were for party guests. Rylie was a party guest. So I was just waiting in the studio lobby, bored, and kind Ms. Deborah (dance teacher) said that I could come in and practice with them. I became a boy party guest.

Now, the children (boy and girl) party guests do a dance first, then there is a 1-minute dance for the adult party guests. Then the elves have to do a dance. I had a one minute to change from boy party guest to elf. Easier said than done, of course. I usually missed the very beginning of my elf dance.

The very first year I was in The Nutcracker I wanted to be a snowflake. This was my first year actually taking ballet (other then a ballet and tap combo class when I was 5). A snowflake is a character for advanced dancers. I chose snowflake because I thought asking for the role of Clara or Sugar Plum Fairy (lead roles) would be too much. Needless to say, I didn't get the role of a snowflake, but I contented with the roles of a girl party guest, angel, chinese dancer, and gingersnap.

Thanks for letting my pour out my sadness and memories on you.