More than 60 youth dancers are putting their spin on a holiday classic this weekend for “The Nutcracker: Land of the Sweets” in Breckenridge, from Frisco’s Alpine Dance Academy.
“It’s like nothing you’ve ever really seen before,” dancer Julianna Broughton says. “It’s definitely a bunch of classical ballet, but also fun acrobatic tricks and little kids. I love Mother Ginger and the gingersnaps because they are so cute.”
Julianna has been dancing since she was 3 years old. She’s now 15 and leaping into her role, practicing on pointe — literally on her tippy toes — two to three days per week since August.
“It takes a lot of practice and a lot of years to work up to it,” she says. “You have to be incredibly strong.”
This is ADA’s second winter presenting its version of “The Nutcracker” with a narrator and hour-long runtime. Clara, the charming lead, is played by two dancers, Cameron Scott-Schmitt and Annika Kramer.
Annika, 17, first saw “The Nutcracker” — the three-hour traditional version — at the Denver Ballet when she was 4 years old. She hasn’t missed a year since, but she never dreamed she would grow up to be Clara.
“It’s a little different than what I expected,” Annika says. “It’s definitely a lot of acting, but the dance requires a lot of strength. It’s a lot of mental preparation to say, ‘I can do this, I can point my toes, I can get my leg high, I can trust the dance.'”
Both girls have performed dozens of times at competitions across the state with ADA’s dance team, Alpine Dance Vibes, and both admit they still get nervous just before showtime. But the nerves for “The Nutcracker” hit a little different.
“There’s a little bit of nerves going into the show but I’m really excited to perform this on stage,” Annika says. “It is such a cool experience to be part of a classic Christmas tradition in the dance world.”
“The Nutcracker: Land of the Sweets” is on stage four times this weekend at the Riverwalk. Tickets are on sale through Breck Create.