Christmas came early this year for the Colorado Springs Philharmonic Dancers, who are already deep in rehearsals for the annual performance of the Nutcracker Ballet. It’s easy for us to buy tickets and enjoy a show without thinking about all the work that goes into the performance. Clara, the Sugarplum Fairy, the Mouse King, and 124 dancers have been gearing up for the big show since August, when they gathered in a flurry of anticipation to audition for a spot in the Nutcracker.

During auditions, hundreds of local dancers converged at the Colorado Springs Ballet Society to compete for a role in the spotlight. Large groups of dancers were shown a series of steps and had to repeat them from memory. “Auditioning is always nerve-wracking,” said 15 year old Brianna Skaggs, who has been dancing in the Nutcracker for five or six years. The judges let certain dancers move on until they eventually find their cast. The best dancers in the Colorado Springs area are now in rehearsals every weekend at the Ballet Society studio. “Auditions were more nerve-wracking this year because we’re performing with a different company and a different director,” said 16 year old Elizabeth Staley. While the Colorado Springs Philharmonic usually pairs with Ballet Idaho, this year they are performing with the Oklahoma City Ballet. “The most exciting part about being in the Nutcracker is getting to see the professionals dance. They look flawless. We’re always nervous when they come,” said Elizabeth. During the week of the show, the dancers will go on to have dress rehearsals with the Oklahoma City Ballet at the Pikes Peak Center. The Oklahoma City Ballet has over 50 years of experience with performing the Nutcracker, and is partnering with student dancers from the Pikes Peak region to put on a spectacular show. Brianna, who is playing an angel and a soldier in this year’s show, said that one of the best things about rehearsals is that “you get to know girls from other studios.” Elizabeth answered similarly, saying that what she loved about rehearsals are the people. This is Elizabeth’s fourth year dancing in the Nutcracker and she will be playing a baker in the show, but during rehearsals she also helps the younger children who are playing angels. Rehearsals can be both fun and challenging for the dancers. Elizabeth’s biggest challenge in rehearsals is mastering her tumbling pass. “A tumbling pass is gymnastics. I haven’t quite perfected it yet but it’s almost there. I’m just afraid of falling on my face!” Lots of people come to support the dancers, Elizabeth is expecting her family, a couple of her friends, and a teacher from her school to be there when the curtain comes up on opening night. With an average of 6,500 people attending the Nutcracker performances each year, it is bound to be a success.

The Nutcracker Ballet wouldn’t come together without the efforts of the dancers, as well as all the people behind the scenes. I got the opportunity to correspond with Nutcracker Coordinator Kiara Nath and Operations Director Lynn Holladay, who gave me an inside look of what the show is like both in front of and behind the curtain. “Our dancers have one hour rehearsals every week for 9 weeks, but they can range from one and a half hours to two hours depending on the part,” said Kiara. “The biggest obstacle this year in the making of the show is working with a different company. It’s very different. We worked with Ballet Idaho last year, so this year we have brand new choreography. The Oklahoma City Ballet arrives the week of Thanksgiving and our dancers will begin working with them the day before Thanksgiving.” Lynn said that the biggest challenge in the making of the show is “the logistics of getting 124 community dancers, 45 professionals, 10 staff and crew from Oklahoma, 25 local crew, 76 musicians, and 15-20 volunteers all prepared and working together to make a show happen.”For this years show, Colorado Springs Philharmonic will rely upon the tech crew from the Oklahoma City Ballet, who will be working behind the scenes. “They bring a lighting designer, a production manager, a stagemanager, a carpenter.  We provide an “in-house” crew of electricians, carpenters, fly rail operators etc.  All told we probably have 30 people in and out of the building during the week, just in crew.  To run the show itself is a smaller group, maybe 10 people. The Oklahoma City Ballet will bring the set, and costumes – those jobs are done long before the group gets to colorado springs, though.” Said Lynn. Colorado Springs Philharmonic also relies on the help of parent volunteers during the show, who stay in dressing rooms and help the dancers with costumes and makeup. When referring to the making of the Nutcracker, Kiara said that the most rewarding part of it all is “getting to know the kids.” “Watching the kids dance with the professionals is very rewarding. You see the way they look at the professionals, like they’re magic. The kids get to perform for their families and they all love to be here. All of them have smiles on their faces, and that makes us smile.”

Tickets for the show can be purchased online through the Colorado Springs Philharmonic website, or at 719-520-SHOW. This performance is just what you need to get into the holiday spirit, and it’s appropriate for all ages. So kick off the holiday season with the Nutcracker Ballet this year. With a different cast each time, this show is never quite the same, so go get this once in a lifetime experience before it’s over.

Gallery • 4 Photos

Local dancers stretch to prepare for rehearsals.