Has Anyone's Child Participated in Washington Ballet Nutcracker?

[Anonymous]

DD is 8 years old and she dances 2x a week at TWB for her regular classes. Then Nutcracker is 2 additional rehearsals on Saturday and Sunday. So she will be dancing 4x a week for TWB ballet/Nutcracker. That is not including additional jazz/tap/hip hop classes elsewhere.

This is our first year doing TWS ballet Nutcracker. To be honest up until age 10 or so the kids don't really even dance in it. They are more like moving scenery. But she really wanted to do it, so we will see how this year goes. She is also 1A and will be a cherry blossom. She really wanted to be a party girl, but I kept expectations very low. Lol.

[Anonymous]

What is a cherry blossom? Which scene are they in? How does that role compare to mice or angels?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is 8 years old and she dances 2x a week at TWB for her regular classes. Then Nutcracker is 2 additional rehearsals on Saturday and Sunday. So she will be dancing 4x a week for TWB ballet/Nutcracker. That is not including additional jazz/tap/hip hop classes elsewhere.

This is our first year doing TWS ballet Nutcracker. To be honest up until age 10 or so the kids don't really even dance in it. They are more like moving scenery. But she really wanted to do it, so we will see how this year goes. She is also 1A and will be a cherry blossom. She really wanted to be a party girl, but I kept expectations very low. Lol.

Got it. Thanks for helping me better understand how this all works! It's very interesting! Good luck to your daughter! : )

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do they ever have live orchestra for nutcracker? I saw it a few years ago and was disappointed that it was a recording.

Just out of curiosity, what share of kids who audition get cast? How many years dancing classes do they usually have under their belt? Or is it more about being able to follow directions for the basic kid roles?

- mom who could see dd asking to do this in a few years but currently only has dance at school aftercare

Julie Kent has been talking about bringing back live orchestra for at least some performances - I haven't heard any update.

I think most - but not all - kids get cast. My guess is 80-90% get a part at the younger levels. The youngest children who can audition are in preballet 3 -- generally about 6-7 years old. You must be a student at TWSB to audition, and you have to audition to get into the school (although I think most kids are admitted as well).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is a cherry blossom? Which scene are they in? How does that role compare to mice or angels?

I am interested in this too.

[Anonymous]

Many of you might find this in-depth article about kids in the WB Nutcracker from two years ago fascinating:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/the-nutcracker-fairies-and-tulle-onstage-total-nuts-backstage/2015/12/15/96c4bb7e-8fa3-11e5-ae1f-af46b7df8483_story.html?utm_term=.d02d98d6aa65

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is a cherry blossom? Which scene are they in? How does that role compare to mice or angels?

I am interested in this too.

They are in the opening scene of the second act - where Clara and the Prince are transported to (not the land of sweets) but the Tidal Basin. The cherry blossoms dance around with the mushrooms, bees.. I think there are some big girls who are flowers as well. They wear a cute little outfit that is knee pants and a jacket with a feathery hat. They hold cherry blossom branches. They tendu and plie. It's cute.

If you are a parent, you can see pictures of previous years on the parent portal, which can help you envision the costume and settings.

[Anonymous]

My DD doesn't dance anymore, but she loved the experience with the Nutcracker. She was young (1st grade) and it was awesome for her to be up on that stage w/ the huge audience. That said, her love of the Nutcracker was not enough to keep her dancing as she prefers other activities. But it was an experience that I am very glad she had (and so is she). Have fun and good luck to those in this year's production!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many of you might find this in-depth article about kids in the WB Nutcracker from two years ago fascinating:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/the-nutcracker-fairies-and-tulle-onstage-total-nuts-backstage/2015/12/15/96c4bb7e-8fa3-11e5-ae1f-af46b7df8483_story.html?utm_term=.d02d98d6aa65

I want to see the nutty nutcracker!

[Anonymous]

The whole thing is adorable and every kid has a blast!

The roles for the little kids are supposedly all comparable except for the party kids. Those are the most elite roles, but as a PP stated go to the political kids, who's-who kids, and donor kids. After that, I would say for the 1A-1B kids best roles are soldiers and mice bc have more stage time. The mice tend to be smaller kids. Next come the cherry blossoms bc there are fewer (only 4) per show, along with mushrooms and bees. Those are the itty bitties. Snow angels are probably the most kids bc there are 12 per show. I wish the snow angels danced more.
Since it's the role with the most kids.

[Anonymous]

I am curious whether anyone on this thread -- has or knows of a "normal" girl who was cast in the party scene as a young child. A lot of people read this... surely there is some supremely talented youngster who was cast on the basis of talent alone. Anyone?

{Not counting boys... there are so few boy ballet dancers that it seems like if they get a part, they are in the party scene. Also not counting the upper levels - Clara etc. - since I assume those roles are so crucial that they are cast by merit.}

[Anonymous]

Parent of long time dancer and many years of observing party kids at several schools in the DC area. Party scene children are usually 1 or a combo of the following, in no particular order: decent technique for the age, relatively hard worker/listens/follows direction, child of major donor or well-known parent, a minority as showing diversity in dance is seen as important and party kids is a way to do this more so than other dances/parts which may be shorter in length.

Also, depending on the age range of party kids, different body types are often represented, even to include heavier kids. DK danced at Wash Ballet among others, but I don't remember if this was the case or not given the older age of the party kids there but at other schools this is often seen.

Party kid and Clara are seen as the "choice roles" by the students - Clara for obvious reasons and party kids often for the costumes which appeal to young dancers.

[Anonymous]

There are lots of old threads on this issue, BTW.

[Anonymous]

Long time WB parent here. My kid has been a snow angel, soldier, clown and butterfly. She loves it all, it's her thing, she gladly gives her time to WB. Now that she is a teenager, she has dance solid friends from WB separate from her school friends. Never a party girl, but coveted that role for years. Even the kids know something is fishy with those parts.

I know of one "normal" (non donor family) girl who was a party kid but she is incredibly, stunningly, beautiful and small for her age (so mature but looks like a little kid).

And there is the diversity factor. Since this is anonymous, I will say that over the years, I've noticed party kids who dance at the SE campus. Just an observation but I'm sure WB pays attention to diversity in those big roles.
Otherwise, donor families for sure.

[Anonymous]

My friend’s daughter was selected as a party girl without any strong connection to the school. She just moved from another country a few months ago and does not speak English at all. She is naturally talented, I guess. I have been feeling happy for her and her parents because she still has been through difficult time getting used to her new life, school and so on here in DC. Dancing as a party Girl will definitely make her feel confident, accepted and motivated. Sorry for my poor English. I am not a native English speaker too.