Nutcracker Season: A Short Story
Christina opens the door gently and steps inside the studio, “Sorry to interrupt Zhanna. Ladies, the cast lists are up.” A murmur spreads throughout the room. A smile beams across most faces, whereas some look terrified as they realize the Nutcracker season is here. Lainey’s stomach drops, she had been waiting anxiously for this moment to learn what part she had received for her final Nutcracker before graduating high-school. “Go ahead girls be back in five minutes to start pointe,” said Zhanna. In a split second, everyone had already rushed out the studio door and crowded around the bulletin board. Lainey waited for a few moments before making her way to the bulletin. She hoped to receive the role of Princess Clara. Princess Clara is the lead in the Nutcracker ballet, she is transformed from the young Clara
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in Act One to a princess who performs a series of beautiful variations in Act Two. Megan and Grace turned and smiled at her. Lainey’s heart sank as she reached the bulletin. The cast list was divided by cast A and B. Lainey found her name and traced her finger across the page. She noticed her hands were shaking.
She had tried to prepare herself for this very moment, if she gets it great, if she doesn’t it won’t be the end of the world, but at this moment all Lainey could think of was performing the role of Princess Clara. Lainey retraced her finger over and over again, following the dotted line from Lainey Clark to Princess Clara on both cast sheets. She could hardly believe that her dream had just come true. She was overwhelmed by the embrace of her closest dance friends Elliana, Faith, and Jenny. Lainey’s eyes began to swell with tears. She couldn’t explain this kind of feeling. She had grown up looking up to the senior girls who performed Princess Clara and now that girl was her. So many hours of intense practice had gone into achieving this role and she couldn’t quite grasp that it was really happening. “We start in ten minutes,” said Sergey as he passed the group of girls. Sergey was the owner of Salt Creek Ballet, Lainey’s dance school. He owns the school with his wife Zhanna, and had been Lainey’s teacher for four years now. He was not one to celebrate or hug Lainey for receiving the role, he is tough and straight to the
point.
“Thank you guys,” said Lainey to Elli, Faith, and Jenny. “You totally deserve this part, it’s going to be the best Nutcracker season yet,” said Jenny. Lainey went to the back to fill up her water bottle at the drinking fountain and grab her pointe shoe bag before starting the rehearsal. On her way, Mary the school costume coordinator gave her a huge hug. Mary had made and altered Lainey’s costumes since before she could remember. Mary had been to every one of her performances and had been there through some pretty stressful times. “I’m fitting your costume after rehearsal tonight,” said Mary as she walked towards the costume closet. It was all happening. The Nutcracker season was here and Lainey’s dream role was finally hers. After filling up her water bottle Lainey was congratulated by Mr. Keith and Ms. Kristin. Mr. Keith takes pictures at Salt Creek, he does the company’s headshots and dance shots. Ms. Kristin had been a role-model for Lainey growing up at the studio. She was a dancer at Hubbard Street and occasionally taught class. Mr. Keith talks to Lainey about scheduling a photoshoot for the Nutcracker. They agreed on tonight because Mr. Keith had already brought his cameras for the headshots. Lainey was feeling slightly overwhelmed at this point. All in one day she would have rehearsal, a costume fitting, and a photoshoot. She knew this role would be challenging and very demanding, but it was her dream and she was willing to do anything to have the opportunity to step on stage and perform the role of Princess Clara. Time had somehow escaped and Lainey knew she was late for rehearsal. She rushed to Studio one. Lainey grabbed her white practice tutu. She stretched her splits and back for a few minutes before Sergey walked in. “We have three months. Over ten variations. Costumes and photos. Ready? Let’s go.” With that Sergey had started showing the first variation. Lainey stood behind him, struggling to repeat the choreography. She was expected to learn all this choreography after Surgery showed it one or two times. He took the music remote and started the music. The familiar sound of the first Princess Clara variation sang through Lainey’s ears. “5, 6, 7, 8 ...and!” yelled Sergey. As Lainey began to dance. Hearing the music, the steps came very easily and naturally to Lainey. She remembered her first Nutcracker and all the following as she watched the older girls and aspired to be like them someday. The variation had ended in a whirl and Lainey stood breathless in the final pose. Sergey had no compliments. “Shoulders down, pelvis tucked, pointe your feet in all jumps, and straighten your knees. Yes?”
“Yes.” gasped Lainey, out of breath after having finished the variation for her first time.
The rehearsal continued for another hour and a half. Lainey had learned all the variations and know needed to rehearse them for the performances. The shows were felt so away but the rehearsals started three months prior to perfect all the little details that make a dance so beautiful. Not many people realize when they watch a dance the countess hours of rehearsal put into perfected a piece. “Good that’s all tonight,” said Sergey. He left the studio and went to his office. Lainey stayed in the studio trying to get her breath back. She had known that these variations were incredibly challenging but was just now realizing how demanding and exhausting they really were.
“How was it?” asked Mary, stepping into the studio.
“It was good, the variations are very difficult though.”
“You’re a beautiful dancer and you’re going to great performing this role. Ready for the costume fitting?”
“Yes!” replied Lainey, she was overjoyed to be fitted for the Princess Clara tutu.
Lainey and Mary walked back to the costume room and Mary handed Lainey the tutu. The tutu is white with hundreds of crystals sewn onto the bodice. It is a classical tutu. Lainey had dreamed about someday wearing this tutu on stage. “Looks good. Just a few alterations,” said Mary, pinning the back of the costume. “I need to fit the crown as well.” Mary pulled the Princess Clara crown from a box on the top shelf of the costume room and placed it on Lainey's head in the center of her bun. The crown was massive, it was silver with crystals.
“Perfect!” exclaimed Mary. “You’re all good sweetie. Thank you!”
“Thank you Mary.” said Lainey giving Mary a hug. It was almost nine o’clock, and Lainey had been here since four. The hours were intense but lainey was used to it. Finally, she needed to do the photoshoot. She made her way to studio four and met Mr. Keith. “Good, we’re ready to start,” said Keith, adjusting his studio lights. Lainey was using the snow queen costume for the shoot. The costume was very similar to Princess Clara’s and since Mary was sewing the Princess Clara tutu Lainey used the snow queen’s. This wasn’t Lainey's first shoot so she felt very comfortable and natural. Lainey first posed in arabesque, then one standing, kneeling, and finally a grand jete. “Perfect, very easy. You’re a natural,” said Keith. “Thank you so much,” said Lainey, hugging Mr. Keith. Mr. Keith began to pack up his cameras and lights as Lainey made her way to the dressing room. She was the only dancer still at the studio. It was already almost ten o’clock. She put her pointe shoes back in her bag quickly and grabbed her keys. On her way out Sergey stepped out of his office. “I am proud Lainey,” said Sergey. Lainey was surprised to hear this, Sergey did not exactly have a loving personality. Sergey opened his arms and hugged Lainey. She knew how much work would be demanded of her in the next three months but was willing to push herself to be able step on stage and perform her dream role of Princess Clara.
in Act One to a princess who performs a series of beautiful variations in Act Two. Megan and Grace turned and smiled at her. Lainey’s heart sank as she reached the bulletin. The cast list was divided by cast A and B. Lainey found her name and traced her finger across the page. She noticed her hands were shaking.
She had tried to prepare herself for this very moment, if she gets it great, if she doesn’t it won’t be the end of the world, but at this moment all Lainey could think of was performing the role of Princess Clara. Lainey retraced her finger over and over again, following the dotted line from Lainey Clark to Princess Clara on both cast sheets. She could hardly believe that her dream had just come true. She was overwhelmed by the embrace of her closest dance friends Elliana, Faith, and Jenny. Lainey’s eyes began to swell with tears. She couldn’t explain this kind of feeling. She had grown up looking up to the senior girls who performed Princess Clara and now that girl was her. So many hours of intense practice had gone into achieving this role and she couldn’t quite grasp that it was really happening. “We start in ten minutes,” said Sergey as he passed the group of girls. Sergey was the owner of Salt Creek Ballet, Lainey’s dance school. He owns the school with his wife Zhanna, and had been Lainey’s teacher for four years now. He was not one to celebrate or hug Lainey for receiving the role, he is tough and straight to the
point.
“Thank you guys,” said Lainey to Elli, Faith, and Jenny. “You totally deserve this part, it’s going to be the best Nutcracker season yet,” said Jenny. Lainey went to the back to fill up her water bottle at the drinking fountain and grab her pointe shoe bag before starting the rehearsal. On her way, Mary the school costume coordinator gave her a huge hug. Mary had made and altered Lainey’s costumes since before she could remember. Mary had been to every one of her performances and had been there through some pretty stressful times. “I’m fitting your costume after rehearsal tonight,” said Mary as she walked towards the costume closet. It was all happening. The Nutcracker season was here and Lainey’s dream role was finally hers. After filling up her water bottle Lainey was congratulated by Mr. Keith and Ms. Kristin. Mr. Keith takes pictures at Salt Creek, he does the company’s headshots and dance shots. Ms. Kristin had been a role-model for Lainey growing up at the studio. She was a dancer at Hubbard Street and occasionally taught class. Mr. Keith talks to Lainey about scheduling a photoshoot for the Nutcracker. They agreed on tonight because Mr. Keith had already brought his cameras for the headshots. Lainey was feeling slightly overwhelmed at this point. All in one day she would have rehearsal, a costume fitting, and a photoshoot. She knew this role would be challenging and very demanding, but it was her dream and she was willing to do anything to have the opportunity to step on stage and perform the role of Princess Clara. Time had somehow escaped and Lainey knew she was late for rehearsal. She rushed to Studio one. Lainey grabbed her white practice tutu. She stretched her splits and back for a few minutes before Sergey walked in. “We have three months. Over ten variations. Costumes and photos. Ready? Let’s go.” With that Sergey had started showing the first variation. Lainey stood behind him, struggling to repeat the choreography. She was expected to learn all this choreography after Surgery showed it one or two times. He took the music remote and started the music. The familiar sound of the first Princess Clara variation sang through Lainey’s ears. “5, 6, 7, 8 ...and!” yelled Sergey. As Lainey began to dance. Hearing the music, the steps came very easily and naturally to Lainey. She remembered her first Nutcracker and all the following as she watched the older girls and aspired to be like them someday. The variation had ended in a whirl and Lainey stood breathless in the final pose. Sergey had no compliments. “Shoulders down, pelvis tucked, pointe your feet in all jumps, and straighten your knees. Yes?”
“Yes.” gasped Lainey, out of breath after having finished the variation for her first time.
The rehearsal continued for another hour and a half. Lainey had learned all the variations and know needed to rehearse them for the performances. The shows were felt so away but the rehearsals started three months prior to perfect all the little details that make a dance so beautiful. Not many people realize when they watch a dance the countess hours of rehearsal put into perfected a piece. “Good that’s all tonight,” said Sergey. He left the studio and went to his office. Lainey stayed in the studio trying to get her breath back. She had known that these variations were incredibly challenging but was just now realizing how demanding and exhausting they really were.
“How was it?” asked Mary, stepping into the studio.
“It was good, the variations are very difficult though.”
“You’re a beautiful dancer and you’re going to great performing this role. Ready for the costume fitting?”
“Yes!” replied Lainey, she was overjoyed to be fitted for the Princess Clara tutu.
Lainey and Mary walked back to the costume room and Mary handed Lainey the tutu. The tutu is white with hundreds of crystals sewn onto the bodice. It is a classical tutu. Lainey had dreamed about someday wearing this tutu on stage. “Looks good. Just a few alterations,” said Mary, pinning the back of the costume. “I need to fit the crown as well.” Mary pulled the Princess Clara crown from a box on the top shelf of the costume room and placed it on Lainey's head in the center of her bun. The crown was massive, it was silver with crystals.
“Perfect!” exclaimed Mary. “You’re all good sweetie. Thank you!”
“Thank you Mary.” said Lainey giving Mary a hug. It was almost nine o’clock, and Lainey had been here since four. The hours were intense but lainey was used to it. Finally, she needed to do the photoshoot. She made her way to studio four and met Mr. Keith. “Good, we’re ready to start,” said Keith, adjusting his studio lights. Lainey was using the snow queen costume for the shoot. The costume was very similar to Princess Clara’s and since Mary was sewing the Princess Clara tutu Lainey used the snow queen’s. This wasn’t Lainey's first shoot so she felt very comfortable and natural. Lainey first posed in arabesque, then one standing, kneeling, and finally a grand jete. “Perfect, very easy. You’re a natural,” said Keith. “Thank you so much,” said Lainey, hugging Mr. Keith. Mr. Keith began to pack up his cameras and lights as Lainey made her way to the dressing room. She was the only dancer still at the studio. It was already almost ten o’clock. She put her pointe shoes back in her bag quickly and grabbed her keys. On her way out Sergey stepped out of his office. “I am proud Lainey,” said Sergey. Lainey was surprised to hear this, Sergey did not exactly have a loving personality. Sergey opened his arms and hugged Lainey. She knew how much work would be demanded of her in the next three months but was willing to push herself to be able step on stage and perform her dream role of Princess Clara.