No music evokes the magic of the holidays more than the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. No role is more special to a dancer in The Nutcracker Ballet. In this year’s Wilton Dance Studio performance, Wilton High School Senior Madeleine Woodworth is the Sugar Plum Fairy. Here are her thoughts on what it’s like, and her wish for the audiences who come to the show.
Playing the Sugar Plum Fairy
My role this year... Wow my role this year is kind of indescribable. I've wanted to be the Sugar Plum Fairy since I first started doing Nutcracker, when I was 5 years old. It's my dream role and it's every little girl's dream to be the Sugar Plum. My role is so special to me because it's been my dream since I was a mouse and now in my last WDS Nutcracker, I finally get to be the Sugar Plum Fairy. Now that I am bestowed the great honor of playing the Sugar Plum Fairy, I can only work hard and try my best to be the best Sugar Plum that I can be.
Preparing for the Show
I think the most fun part of preparing for the show is getting to see how it all comes together. You're with the group from the beginning and then as each rehearsal goes by, you can see the show coming together and at the dress rehearsal you see every last little detail fall into place. I just love to watch the progression of the dances and how the show looks compared to when we started rehearsals. When I was younger, I shared the same enthusiasm about rehearsals as I do now. I've always loved coming to rehearsals and I've always looked forward to them. When I was younger I was so excited to watch the "big girls" dance. To me and to the rest of the younger girls, they seemed like celebrities. I still can't quite get used to the idea that I am one of the big girls now.
The Audition
To prepare for auditions, I usually stretch out and warm up before. The main thing I like to focus on is not psyching myself out. Mrs. Froehlich, who casts the show, knows what we are capable of. The audition is just another performance, a chance to show the audience what we can do. To me, it is important to try my best, but know that whatever happens, happens and I know that I will be happy with whatever role I receive.
Balancing College Applications and Commitment to Dance
It is really hard to balance school and dance. It is even more difficult being that I am a senior and I have countless college applications to complete in addition to my homework and stretching to keep up my flexibility. However, dance is the best escape for me. I get to leave behind all of my schoolwork when I walk into the studio, and I get to focus on dance and only dance.
Practice, Practice, Practice
I think that the people don't know just exactly how many hours we spend in the studio rehearsing and how many sacrifices that are made in order to create this spectacular production. Last Saturday, I was at the studio for 12 hours! And many weekend plans have been cancelled due to rehearsals. However tedious that may sound, I'm not complaining. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I love getting to see my friends at rehearsals and I love getting to run all of my dances and see everyone else run theirs. So even though we have to spend many hours in the studio rehearsing, it's not tedious at all because I love doing it.
A Few Wishes for the Audience
I really hope the audience enjoys the show. Many people have worked so hard to bring this show together and we want the hard work to pay off with the audience's satisfaction. To me, there is nothing more satisfying and fulfilling than hearing the audience's thunderous applause (and sometimes even a standing ovation) after a performance. After all, we are putting on a show for the audience. In conclusion, I'd just like to say how happy I am that I started Nutcracker when I was young. It's such a timeless story and being in the production is an experience that I wouldn't trade for anything.
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. To buy tickets, call 203-544-9007 and leave a message or order at www.wiltondance.com, click on “Nutcracker Performances” download & print the ticket order form. Tickets are also available at the door on the day of the show.
