What Scares ABT's Clara? Giant Chairs!

November 28, 2001

 

This week I got the opportunity to try out a giant chair that is going to be part of the Nutcracker set, which was cool–but also a little scary! When I’m up on the chair there is only room for me to stand in first position. I literally cannot move anywhere else. Also, the platform is slanted, so it is hard to keep my balance. Luckily there’s a protective bar around me so I can’t hurt myself. When the stage manager told me that I had just 10 seconds to get on the chair before they move it onstage, I got a little nervous. But I think it’ll be OK–the stage manager is great, and I trust him.


I am also working on the party scene. We finally got to the moment where I meet Drosselmeyer, and now we’re all the way up to the part where he brings in the magical dolls and then gives me the Nutcracker. I have also been working on the battle scene. One of the company members got to try dancing with the new mouse head. He looks amazing–very creepy.

 

This is truly going to be the best ballet of them all! Can’t wait to see it all together. See you next time!

 

Read the other guest blog posts by JKO School student Catherine Hurlin, who’s rehearsing the role of Clara for ABT’s new
Nutcracker, here, here and here.