Why Dancers Love The Nutcracker: The Snow Queen Speaks

The Nutcracker isn't just special for the audience. Each year, the student dancers who bring it to life share in the joy and learn from their experience. Elyse Cowles, a high school junior who plays The Snow Queen in Wilton Dance Studio's production this Sunday, shares her thoughts on what makes the production, and the journey to it, special for the dancers in the show.

What Does the Nutcracker Give Back to Dancers?

Overall, the Nutcracker is just such an invaluable experience. I wish the audience could see the atmosphere backstage- we play music, exchange presents, and joke around, but it all comes together when we are onstage and helps us to be even more united in our dancing. The show is always a success, and such a rewarding thing to get to be a part of.

I think the Nutcracker is something that everybody looks forward to. Literally the second the curtain comes down on our June show, we all turn around and say “It’s Nutcracker season!” My mom muses at how even in August, Tchaikovsky’s Snow or Sugar Plum music will be playing in our house. You could definitely say I’m a fanatic…Ever since I was little, dance has been a gigantic part of my life, and the Nutcracker has become such a fundamental part of my holiday season. I spend maybe upwards of 10-12 hours at the studio on weekends during rehearsal season, and a lot of times people ask how I balance all the dance with school. I’m a junior, so the workload is absurd, but honestly, as long as you stay focused and take advantage of free time between practices, it’s very doable.

What's It Like To Audition and Prepare for a Lead Role?

Preparing for auditions is really less stressful than you might think. Our teachers always remind us to perform our best in class, because “every class is like an audition,” so they go into the auditions with a good idea of which dancers are candidates for certain major roles based on the work they have seen. That being said, you should always try your best during the auditions, because smiling and making a visible effort to engage the audience wins major performance points. Even if you trip up a few combinations, don’t be discouraged. Try for performance quality over technique, because the steps can be fixed later.

On Carrying On The Nutcracker Tradition At Wilton Dance Studio

Being cast as the Snow Queen this year is honestly a dream come true for me. The first time I saw the Nutcracker, I was five years old, and it has basically been my life’s goal ever since then to dance this part. I love absolutely everything from the music, to the steps, to the costumes, to the snow that actually falls from the ceiling. The very first year that I was cast as a flurry (our youngest level of snowflakes), I was totally enthused, but what made it really special for me was that the Snow Queen was so interactive with us. Even though we were the youngest and had the smallest part, she was so approachable and friendly. Now that I have moved up the ranks and have the privilege of being the Queen, I have sort of adopted her attitude along with the role. I want to make every single snowflake feel significant in this dance; it wouldn’t be the Snow scene if it was just me onstage alone- every one of them contributes to making it such a beautiful piece, so I’m definitely not afraid to compliment them or approach them to tell them that they are doing a good job. Maybe some of them are future Snow Queens down the road, so you never know!

The Wilton Dance Studio production of The Nutcracker will be on Sunday, December 8, 2013 at 1 and 4:30 p.m. at Wilton High School’s Clune Performing Arts Center.  Tickets are available at the door on the day of the show.