While most high school students are looking forward to carving pumpkins for Halloween and having a belly full of Thanksgiving turkey, a few CHS students are already tirelessly preparing for a choreographed Christmas performance called the Nutcracker. A lot of the time these student dancers spend outside of school is dedicated to rehearsing and training for this big performance, but they are also using their talents to connect and bond with the community through outreach performances at various locations in Chelsea.
“I’ve performed at a lot of places for outreach,” junior Abbey Garrison said. “We’ve done performances at Hillsdale College, Robin Hills Farm, North Creek Elementary, and a lot more.”
From performing at Silver Maples to the local library, it’s evident that these performances are for people of all ages.
“It’s always fun to do the ones with kids because it’s always fun to see their reactions,” senior Naomi Ratliff said. “But I also really loved performing at donor events and other outreaches. Many adults also get excited and impressed by Ballet Chelsea’s performances, especially Nutcracker.”
Being able to perform the Nutcracker in front of their own community is something that is so important to CHS dancers. For a lot of them, they have performed in this show for their own lives.
“Nutcracker means a lot to everyone, just because it’s become such a big tradition in their lives”, Ratliff said. “But to me it has always brought nostalgic memories and feelings and it’s when I feel most at home.”
The small showings of Ballet Chelsea’s Nutcracker are impressive, but they don’t compare to their actual big performances.
“Everyone loves to dance at the Jackson Potter Center,” Garrison said. “It’s so big, and makes everything feel so surreal and magical.”
The Jackson Potter Center is where their Nutcracker is performed every year and the dancers always look forward to being there.
“With an audience, seating up to around 1500 people, and the live music being performed by the Jackson Symphony Orchestra, it’s just an amazing feeling and a great opportunity for us,” Ratliff said.
