Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker

WOW.

To our dancers who performed last night in the Nutcracker:

Congratulations on an amazing performance.  I am SO proud of each and every one of you.  I’m proud of the great performances you gave, the way you focused and worked hard to prepare for this show, and the way you included everyone during downtime yesterday in between wardrobe fittings, photos, rehearsals, and the performance.  You danced beautifully and I think you had a great time – which is everything your teachers hoped for you.

To our parents of dancers who performed last night in the Nutcracker:

Thank you.  I know 6 weeks of weekend rehearsals may not have been at the top of your “things we want to do” list and that the trip to Fairfield in the middle of a Friday is a big ask.  Because of your commitment to the rehearsal schedules and making sure your dancers got where they needed to be with everything they needed (and a snack), this was a huge success.  Your dancer may not realize it now, but they someday will: they have all of these wonderful opportunities because of you.  Thank you for supporting them (and by supporting them, supporting The Pointe) and for the standing ovation last night.  Your kids are not only great dancers – they are awesome people and I treasure the opportunity to work with and teach them.

To my teachers who rehearsed these pieces and prepared these dancers for the stage:

Thank you doesn’t even come close.  You are the reason this was a success.  Using video and (probably difficult to read) notes from our short time with Anna, you made the Nutcracker come to life for our students.  You brought out musicality, artistry, an appreciation and understanding of ballet technique, and a fantastic performance from these students.  Your approach to the material and challenge of putting it all together with the schedule we were able to find is the reason this came out so beautifully.  Thank you for the Saturday afternoons.  Thank you for the way you encourage these dancers to not only perform well but to become artists and smart performers.  Thank you for keeping what could be a stressful season FUN and helping dancers keep their eye on the prize.  Dance performances don’t give out game balls or MVP trophies – but please know that we all know that this could not have happened without you.  Laura, Josie, and Aaron – thank you.  I am (of course) biased and think that we have the greatest dance studio around – the reason for that is our incredible and dedicated staff.

dance studio cedar rapids iowa

Sometimes teaching and trying to balance all of the things we have going on at The Pointe can be stressful.  I often have to choose where to spend my time when I feel like there are 5 things that all deserve that time.  Yesterday was a reminder all around of WHY I do what I do.  Seeing a dancer’s eyes light up when she puts her costumes on for the first time.  Watching older dancers care for the little ones and help keep them entertained backstage.  Noticing dancers helping each other run their part “one more time” (it’s NEVER really only one more time!) and working with each other to be their very best.  Standing backstage with our kids in the Party Scene, Act 1 Scene 1, and having a dancer whisper to me that “wow, dreams really do come true.”  Reminding little snowflakes of their cue to enter the stage because they are so AMAZED at the professional dancers they are watching from the wings.  Hugs and “thank you’s” and high-fives after the performance – and knowing that the dance parents who have invested so much in their dancer’s involvement in this production saw the rewards for those efforts.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen – and congratulations, dancers – you made us all so proud.

Vanessa