TWSB Nutcracker 2023!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can imagine how it would feel to be assigned a soldier and then end up a page. Or be a page three years in a row! Being part of the Nutcracker is exciting, but at a certain point... Our DD stopped dancing at WSB a few years ago because of their inflexible schedule for older girls. I can say in retrospect that all of this seems like such a big deal in the moment but isn't. On the other hand, there should be respect for the girls involved. Three years as a page is just wrong. And switching someone from soldier to page is, for a young girl, a pretty big blow. These roles do have varying levels of desirability, and young girls will take something like this hard. There should be more respect for the girls or a clear warning about what could happen so families don't sign up for a possible humiliation of this order without being aware of what could happen.

If my kid were assigned as a page for the third year in a row and didn't want to do it, I would 100% pull them out. I don't give a crap what I signed earlier. It's so totally disrespectful to the girls. This is especially true because one kid who I knew who got stuck in that role for two years was more or less told that it's because they were an excellent babysitter for the younger kids. It's especially crappy to get the worst role because you're a nice kid. 3 years in a row? No way.

This is such a poor attitude. This is a company production, not a school production. The casting is about filling the needs of the production, and not necessarily about showcasing each student. This is going to vary on the number of kids who show up to the audition at each level.

Most of the roles at that level are pretty interchangeable, honestly. It’s not like I’m saying she should get a chance to be Clara (or even clown or party girl or butterfly or bunny). You can absolutely not give a kid page 3 years in a row without affecting the show. At the very least, you should pre-warn parents and give them a chance to turn down the spot.

You commit to participate regardless of the role. It's an honor to be in a professional production regardless. You get what you get and you don't get upset - the rules of Kinder apply to ballet. If you can't get onboard with any role, don't audition. We've had years of joy over roles and years of tears - such is life and Ballet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can imagine how it would feel to be assigned a soldier and then end up a page. Or be a page three years in a row! Being part of the Nutcracker is exciting, but at a certain point... Our DD stopped dancing at WSB a few years ago because of their inflexible schedule for older girls. I can say in retrospect that all of this seems like such a big deal in the moment but isn't. On the other hand, there should be respect for the girls involved. Three years as a page is just wrong. And switching someone from soldier to page is, for a young girl, a pretty big blow. These roles do have varying levels of desirability, and young girls will take something like this hard. There should be more respect for the girls or a clear warning about what could happen so families don't sign up for a possible humiliation of this order without being aware of what could happen.

If my kid were assigned as a page for the third year in a row and didn't want to do it, I would 100% pull them out. I don't give a crap what I signed earlier. It's so totally disrespectful to the girls. This is especially true because one kid who I knew who got stuck in that role for two years was more or less told that it's because they were an excellent babysitter for the younger kids. It's especially crappy to get the worst role because you're a nice kid. 3 years in a row? No way.

This is such a poor attitude. This is a company production, not a school production. The casting is about filling the needs of the production, and not necessarily about showcasing each student. This is going to vary on the number of kids who show up to the audition at each level.

Most of the roles at that level are pretty interchangeable, honestly. It’s not like I’m saying she should get a chance to be Clara (or even clown or party girl or butterfly or bunny). You can absolutely not give a kid page 3 years in a row without affecting the show. At the very least, you should pre-warn parents and give them a chance to turn down the spot.

Also, FYI, Clara is not a student role

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can imagine how it would feel to be assigned a soldier and then end up a page. Or be a page three years in a row! Being part of the Nutcracker is exciting, but at a certain point... Our DD stopped dancing at WSB a few years ago because of their inflexible schedule for older girls. I can say in retrospect that all of this seems like such a big deal in the moment but isn't. On the other hand, there should be respect for the girls involved. Three years as a page is just wrong. And switching someone from soldier to page is, for a young girl, a pretty big blow. These roles do have varying levels of desirability, and young girls will take something like this hard. There should be more respect for the girls or a clear warning about what could happen so families don't sign up for a possible humiliation of this order without being aware of what could happen.

If my kid were assigned as a page for the third year in a row and didn't want to do it, I would 100% pull them out. I don't give a crap what I signed earlier. It's so totally disrespectful to the girls. This is especially true because one kid who I knew who got stuck in that role for two years was more or less told that it's because they were an excellent babysitter for the younger kids. It's especially crappy to get the worst role because you're a nice kid. 3 years in a row? No way.

This is such a poor attitude. This is a company production, not a school production. The casting is about filling the needs of the production, and not necessarily about showcasing each student. This is going to vary on the number of kids who show up to the audition at each level.

Most of the roles at that level are pretty interchangeable, honestly. It’s not like I’m saying she should get a chance to be Clara (or even clown or party girl or butterfly or bunny). You can absolutely not give a kid page 3 years in a row without affecting the show. At the very least, you should pre-warn parents and give them a chance to turn down the spot.

Also, FYI, Clara is not a student role

Anyone know if students offered spots in the Professional Training Division include many students of color? Or do most of their dancers of color come from outside?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can imagine how it would feel to be assigned a soldier and then end up a page. Or be a page three years in a row! Being part of the Nutcracker is exciting, but at a certain point... Our DD stopped dancing at WSB a few years ago because of their inflexible schedule for older girls. I can say in retrospect that all of this seems like such a big deal in the moment but isn't. On the other hand, there should be respect for the girls involved. Three years as a page is just wrong. And switching someone from soldier to page is, for a young girl, a pretty big blow. These roles do have varying levels of desirability, and young girls will take something like this hard. There should be more respect for the girls or a clear warning about what could happen so families don't sign up for a possible humiliation of this order without being aware of what could happen.

If my kid were assigned as a page for the third year in a row and didn't want to do it, I would 100% pull them out. I don't give a crap what I signed earlier. It's so totally disrespectful to the girls. This is especially true because one kid who I knew who got stuck in that role for two years was more or less told that it's because they were an excellent babysitter for the younger kids. It's especially crappy to get the worst role because you're a nice kid. 3 years in a row? No way.

This is such a poor attitude. This is a company production, not a school production. The casting is about filling the needs of the production, and not necessarily about showcasing each student. This is going to vary on the number of kids who show up to the audition at each level.

It's a bit more nuanced than that--the Company uses ONLY students from the School, and works closely with the school for auditions. It is in the long-term best interest of the Company to ensure that students continue to audition. If the TWB reputation for the Nutcracker is that the girls from SE end up as flower pages year after year--and that the girls from NW end up as clowns and party girls, then very few girls from SE will audition.

This. I have no doubt that ballet in general is somewhat racist and the girls of color in NW get screwed too. But this year it is incredibly apparent that the whole SE program was basically treated as expendable. Almost uniformly the limited number of kids not cast at the younger levels were from SE, the SE kids are disproportionately the pages and there are virtually zero SE kids in the desirable roles. On top of that, there are the 6 SE “soldiers” who found out they were demoted to pages. For a lot of these roles, there is no question that the roles require largely overlapping skills and selection doesn’t meaningfully effect the show at all. It may, on the other hand, lead to a mass exodus from SE. I think they’ve truly made a mistake here.

If this is true... Holy s*!#

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can imagine how it would feel to be assigned a soldier and then end up a page. Or be a page three years in a row! Being part of the Nutcracker is exciting, but at a certain point... Our DD stopped dancing at WSB a few years ago because of their inflexible schedule for older girls. I can say in retrospect that all of this seems like such a big deal in the moment but isn't. On the other hand, there should be respect for the girls involved. Three years as a page is just wrong. And switching someone from soldier to page is, for a young girl, a pretty big blow. These roles do have varying levels of desirability, and young girls will take something like this hard. There should be more respect for the girls or a clear warning about what could happen so families don't sign up for a possible humiliation of this order without being aware of what could happen.

If my kid were assigned as a page for the third year in a row and didn't want to do it, I would 100% pull them out. I don't give a crap what I signed earlier. It's so totally disrespectful to the girls. This is especially true because one kid who I knew who got stuck in that role for two years was more or less told that it's because they were an excellent babysitter for the younger kids. It's especially crappy to get the worst role because you're a nice kid. 3 years in a row? No way.

This is such a poor attitude. This is a company production, not a school production. The casting is about filling the needs of the production, and not necessarily about showcasing each student. This is going to vary on the number of kids who show up to the audition at each level.

Most of the roles at that level are pretty interchangeable, honestly. It’s not like I’m saying she should get a chance to be Clara (or even clown or party girl or butterfly or bunny). You can absolutely not give a kid page 3 years in a row without affecting the show. At the very least, you should pre-warn parents and give them a chance to turn down the spot.

You commit to participate regardless of the role. It's an honor to be in a professional production regardless. You get what you get and you don't get upset - the rules of Kinder apply to ballet. If you can't get onboard with any role, don't audition. We've had years of joy over roles and years of tears - such is life and Ballet.

Was your DD ever cast as a page three years running? Tell us, what was the worst situation your DD was ever in for TWB Nutcracker?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can imagine how it would feel to be assigned a soldier and then end up a page. Or be a page three years in a row! Being part of the Nutcracker is exciting, but at a certain point... Our DD stopped dancing at WSB a few years ago because of their inflexible schedule for older girls. I can say in retrospect that all of this seems like such a big deal in the moment but isn't. On the other hand, there should be respect for the girls involved. Three years as a page is just wrong. And switching someone from soldier to page is, for a young girl, a pretty big blow. These roles do have varying levels of desirability, and young girls will take something like this hard. There should be more respect for the girls or a clear warning about what could happen so families don't sign up for a possible humiliation of this order without being aware of what could happen.

If my kid were assigned as a page for the third year in a row and didn't want to do it, I would 100% pull them out. I don't give a crap what I signed earlier. It's so totally disrespectful to the girls. This is especially true because one kid who I knew who got stuck in that role for two years was more or less told that it's because they were an excellent babysitter for the younger kids. It's especially crappy to get the worst role because you're a nice kid. 3 years in a row? No way.

This is such a poor attitude. This is a company production, not a school production. The casting is about filling the needs of the production, and not necessarily about showcasing each student. This is going to vary on the number of kids who show up to the audition at each level.

Most of the roles at that level are pretty interchangeable, honestly. It’s not like I’m saying she should get a chance to be Clara (or even clown or party girl or butterfly or bunny). You can absolutely not give a kid page 3 years in a row without affecting the show. At the very least, you should pre-warn parents and give them a chance to turn down the spot.

You commit to participate regardless of the role. It's an honor to be in a professional production regardless. You get what you get and you don't get upset - the rules of Kinder apply to ballet. If you can't get onboard with any role, don't audition. We've had years of joy over roles and years of tears - such is life and Ballet.

Was your DD ever cast as a page three years running? Tell us, what was the worst situation your DD was ever in for TWB Nutcracker?

Her daughter was a party girl for 3 years in a row and then a little butterfly.

[Anonymous]

Reading this thread with great fascination, giving thanks that I have 3 boys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can imagine how it would feel to be assigned a soldier and then end up a page. Or be a page three years in a row! Being part of the Nutcracker is exciting, but at a certain point... Our DD stopped dancing at WSB a few years ago because of their inflexible schedule for older girls. I can say in retrospect that all of this seems like such a big deal in the moment but isn't. On the other hand, there should be respect for the girls involved. Three years as a page is just wrong. And switching someone from soldier to page is, for a young girl, a pretty big blow. These roles do have varying levels of desirability, and young girls will take something like this hard. There should be more respect for the girls or a clear warning about what could happen so families don't sign up for a possible humiliation of this order without being aware of what could happen.

If my kid were assigned as a page for the third year in a row and didn't want to do it, I would 100% pull them out. I don't give a crap what I signed earlier. It's so totally disrespectful to the girls. This is especially true because one kid who I knew who got stuck in that role for two years was more or less told that it's because they were an excellent babysitter for the younger kids. It's especially crappy to get the worst role because you're a nice kid. 3 years in a row? No way.

This is such a poor attitude. This is a company production, not a school production. The casting is about filling the needs of the production, and not necessarily about showcasing each student. This is going to vary on the number of kids who show up to the audition at each level.

Most of the roles at that level are pretty interchangeable, honestly. It’s not like I’m saying she should get a chance to be Clara (or even clown or party girl or butterfly or bunny). You can absolutely not give a kid page 3 years in a row without affecting the show. At the very least, you should pre-warn parents and give them a chance to turn down the spot.

You commit to participate regardless of the role. It's an honor to be in a professional production regardless. You get what you get and you don't get upset - the rules of Kinder apply to ballet. If you can't get onboard with any role, don't audition. We've had years of joy over roles and years of tears - such is life and Ballet.

Was your DD ever cast as a page three years running? Tell us, what was the worst situation your DD was ever in for TWB Nutcracker?

Nope she wasn't, but she was 2 years as a snow angel and 2 years as a page - both times was the oldest in the cohort which was a blow to her. Is elated to be a clown this year. It is what it is.

[Anonymous]

Please please do everything you can to make the best of this year for the sake of your kids. Casting is done and it cannot be undone. That being said, I really do hope they make some adjustments moving forward next year and beyond, especially in regards to kids in cast in the same role for 3 years in a row and ESPECIALLY if there is unconscious bias happening due to skin color. That really needs investigation and addressing.

[Anonymous]

This really is such a wonderful time of year! I hope all of the families can get on board and embrace it.

[Anonymous]

Two years a snow angel and two years a page is not three years a page. I had never heard of that happening when we were at WSB. Or what happened with the mixup of soldiers and pages. But the last poster is right. The Nutcracker is a lot of fun, and everyone should try to enjoy it. It will take a lot of encouragement for some of these girls to get over what happened, though, and that is where I think the WB bears some responsibility

[Anonymous]

You’re only talking about a few choice roles because the company dances all of the others. This means that TWSB dancers have to accept what’s being offered and at the end of the day, they are all supporting roles because the main feature is the company. Always. For that reason, the onstage experience — no matter the role — is also supposed to be viewed as valuable in this case. When I saw TWB’s Sleeping Beauty this past spring, there were several students on stage “performing” as attendants — they basically held the wardrobe of the company dancers and there was no dancing involved. It’s just what it is. I’m sure those dancers were just happy to be part of the production and onstage alongside professionals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can imagine how it would feel to be assigned a soldier and then end up a page. Or be a page three years in a row! Being part of the Nutcracker is exciting, but at a certain point... Our DD stopped dancing at WSB a few years ago because of their inflexible schedule for older girls. I can say in retrospect that all of this seems like such a big deal in the moment but isn't. On the other hand, there should be respect for the girls involved. Three years as a page is just wrong. And switching someone from soldier to page is, for a young girl, a pretty big blow. These roles do have varying levels of desirability, and young girls will take something like this hard. There should be more respect for the girls or a clear warning about what could happen so families don't sign up for a possible humiliation of this order without being aware of what could happen.

If my kid were assigned as a page for the third year in a row and didn't want to do it, I would 100% pull them out. I don't give a crap what I signed earlier. It's so totally disrespectful to the girls. This is especially true because one kid who I knew who got stuck in that role for two years was more or less told that it's because they were an excellent babysitter for the younger kids. It's especially crappy to get the worst role because you're a nice kid. 3 years in a row? No way.

This is such a poor attitude. This is a company production, not a school production. The casting is about filling the needs of the production, and not necessarily about showcasing each student. This is going to vary on the number of kids who show up to the audition at each level.

Most of the roles at that level are pretty interchangeable, honestly. It’s not like I’m saying she should get a chance to be Clara (or even clown or party girl or butterfly or bunny). You can absolutely not give a kid page 3 years in a row without affecting the show. At the very least, you should pre-warn parents and give them a chance to turn down the spot.

Also, FYI, Clara is not a student role

I’m not a ballet parent - who dances Clara? Didn’t Chelsea Clinton do it one year when she was young?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can imagine how it would feel to be assigned a soldier and then end up a page. Or be a page three years in a row! Being part of the Nutcracker is exciting, but at a certain point... Our DD stopped dancing at WSB a few years ago because of their inflexible schedule for older girls. I can say in retrospect that all of this seems like such a big deal in the moment but isn't. On the other hand, there should be respect for the girls involved. Three years as a page is just wrong. And switching someone from soldier to page is, for a young girl, a pretty big blow. These roles do have varying levels of desirability, and young girls will take something like this hard. There should be more respect for the girls or a clear warning about what could happen so families don't sign up for a possible humiliation of this order without being aware of what could happen.

If my kid were assigned as a page for the third year in a row and didn't want to do it, I would 100% pull them out. I don't give a crap what I signed earlier. It's so totally disrespectful to the girls. This is especially true because one kid who I knew who got stuck in that role for two years was more or less told that it's because they were an excellent babysitter for the younger kids. It's especially crappy to get the worst role because you're a nice kid. 3 years in a row? No way.

This is such a poor attitude. This is a company production, not a school production. The casting is about filling the needs of the production, and not necessarily about showcasing each student. This is going to vary on the number of kids who show up to the audition at each level.

Most of the roles at that level are pretty interchangeable, honestly. It’s not like I’m saying she should get a chance to be Clara (or even clown or party girl or butterfly or bunny). You can absolutely not give a kid page 3 years in a row without affecting the show. At the very least, you should pre-warn parents and give them a chance to turn down the spot.

Also, FYI, Clara is not a student role

I’m not a ballet parent - who dances Clara? Didn’t Chelsea Clinton do it one year when she was young?

Clara is a PTP role, and though I know Chlesea dances with TWSB, I don't know her nutcracker roles

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can imagine how it would feel to be assigned a soldier and then end up a page. Or be a page three years in a row! Being part of the Nutcracker is exciting, but at a certain point... Our DD stopped dancing at WSB a few years ago because of their inflexible schedule for older girls. I can say in retrospect that all of this seems like such a big deal in the moment but isn't. On the other hand, there should be respect for the girls involved. Three years as a page is just wrong. And switching someone from soldier to page is, for a young girl, a pretty big blow. These roles do have varying levels of desirability, and young girls will take something like this hard. There should be more respect for the girls or a clear warning about what could happen so families don't sign up for a possible humiliation of this order without being aware of what could happen.

If my kid were assigned as a page for the third year in a row and didn't want to do it, I would 100% pull them out. I don't give a crap what I signed earlier. It's so totally disrespectful to the girls. This is especially true because one kid who I knew who got stuck in that role for two years was more or less told that it's because they were an excellent babysitter for the younger kids. It's especially crappy to get the worst role because you're a nice kid. 3 years in a row? No way.

This is such a poor attitude. This is a company production, not a school production. The casting is about filling the needs of the production, and not necessarily about showcasing each student. This is going to vary on the number of kids who show up to the audition at each level.

Most of the roles at that level are pretty interchangeable, honestly. It’s not like I’m saying she should get a chance to be Clara (or even clown or party girl or butterfly or bunny). You can absolutely not give a kid page 3 years in a row without affecting the show. At the very least, you should pre-warn parents and give them a chance to turn down the spot.

Also, FYI, Clara is not a student role

I’m not a ballet parent - who dances Clara? Didn’t Chelsea Clinton do it one year when she was young?

Clara is a PTP role, and though I know Chlesea dances with TWSB, I don't know her nutcracker roles

According to the internet in 1993, Clinton played the role which was then known as "Favorite Aunt"