-double plie on releve
-a new focus on the action and shape of the foot; jumps to releve are sharp, accurate, and strong; feet off the floor are pointed strongly and definitely
-lovely snowflake dance: temps-lie with arms that ebb and flow like the tide

A WORD on the Nutcracker production that did indeed happen, as evidenced by the glittery trace it left on the studio floor: On the days leading to the show, we banded together as a community to create something from nothing in a week's time. It was a remarkable display of initiative, which itself was a demonstration of our sheer devotion to the studio. The days of preparation and rehearsal gave us insight into the process of envisioning a story and bringing it into physical existence. The story itself had magical elements, especially the moment when Drosselmeyer appears out of thin air and the entire party freezes except for Clara; she greets him with an extremely low bow, signifying deference and awe toward the great magician who goes on to demonstrate the tricks of his trade for the lucky girl.

On the day of the show, the addition of a 10-foot-tall Mother Ginger in drag gave us a wonderful throwback to old world burlesque theatre, while it and other elements of the production like the sea of waltzing flowers gave the kids an opening into a world apart from reality. Also on the day of the show, we witnessed an equally remarkable display of resourcefulness and optimism-- the glue that held our performance together in the face of some harried situations. Lastly, the production gave us a taste of what it feels like to dance and perform. Now we can bring these feelings back to the barre, center, and across the scintillating marley floor, scattered with the glittery remnants of a production that-- like a traveling circus-- arose from the dust, grew out of devotion, then disappeared as suddenly as it arose.