artsculture

The Nutcracker - King Center Dec 2009

This account of the Nutcracker is not told by the charming Prince Orgeat, beautiful Clare or her affectionate Uncle Drosselmeyer. This story is told by yours truly who played the humble role of a mouse soldier and a gentleman of the court. If someone had told me months ago that I would perform in a world-class production of the Nutcracker I would have thought they were quite mad but stranger things have happened in this town I suppose. The following is a brief explanation of how Spacecoastvibe got me involved with the Space Coast Ballet Academy for my first and hopefully not my last ballet gig

Before sugar plums and candy canes were dancing through my head I was meeting with Loretta Sorbello in the Sun Shoppe to update Downtown Diva’s business listing on Spacecoastvibe. She discovered that I had “danced” in the Vampire Ball (I didn’t really dance I just threw a bunch of girls up in the air) and immediately she was on the phone with Boris Chepelev who runs the Space Coast Ballet Academy with Janna Kirova. Before I could protest Boris met us at the coffee shop and told me to be at practice the following Monday. I tried to explain that I was not a ballet dancer but Boris and Loretta didn’t seem to care. Knowing it was useless to argue with a Russian I agreed to be at the next practice.                                                         

At practice I discovered I had been recruited for the ‘party scene’, which would involve powered wigs and white gloves for the men and very large puffy dresses for the ladies. I met briefly with all the dancers who had been performing in the Nutcracker for years and before I could explain that I was not a dancer the music started and I was in the middle of a very choreographed and confusing dance. After bumping into several dancers and stepping on some toes I realized I had to think like Frogger and concentrate on not getting run over. I employed the ‘fake it till you make it technique’ and after many practices I almost looked like I knew what I was doing. They even gave me another role as a loyal minion of the Rat King. My circus experience prepared me for the full body unitard that I had only minutes to change into after the party scene.

This was my first experience of the King Center and when I arrived I was amazed at the scope of what I had gotten myself into. I walked backstage and passed a large white horse that was being fitted with a unicorn horn. I made a mental note to keep a safe distance from the horse’s very sharp looking horn in the future. I was wandering around trying to find out who I needed to see about some tights when I encountered a small army of little girls in mouse suits. They were about waist high and had cornered a group of very young English soldiers. I weaved my way through the skirmish and found the hallway the accessed the adult dressing rooms. I overheard an animated conversation between some of the professional ballet dancers who were flown in for the show but I couldn’t understand any of it because it was in Russian. The English and Canadian dancers were inspecting their immaculate costumes and a wizard who looked like he was in a hurry informed me that I was late for makeup. A voice boomed over the loudspeaker and announced that we had 45 minutes till show time. 

I won’t get into all the details of what actually happens in the show. Words wouldn’t do it justice; you’ll have to see for yourself. I was relieved when the first act finished and I realized I hadn’t blown it. I went out during intermission in my full mouse attire with some of the other performers to interact with the crowd. Most of the kids loved the mouse costume and ran up for high fives, handshakes, and photo opportunities. For some children being confronted with a man-sized mouse was absolutely terrifying and they sought shelter behind their parents’ knees. Frightened children aside the crowd was very pleased with the production and some even said it rivaled the Nutcracker they saw in New York. The show was truly incredible and getting the chance to perform in it is an experience I’ll never forget. Check out some of the great pictures that photographer John Sluder kindly allowed us to use. If you missed the show this year put it on your brand spanking new calendar and come see it next December. The family will love it and you’ll feel very organized making plans a year in advance. Happy holidays space coast!