Ballet news

The following post I wrote over six years ago documenting some family history.

This past weekend, our eldest granddaughter appeared with Ballet Jörgen when the ballet company was in Summerside performing the ballet Anne of Green Gables. The story of Anne is based on the book of the same name by islander Lucy Maud Montgomery. 

This Prince Edward Island story was beautifully done by Ballet Jörgen and our granddaughter’s participation in the performance fulfills a prediction she made years ago.

Written in April 2016:

                                  

As part of our Christmas tradition when our daughter was young, we read the story of the Nutcracker. It was one of the books she kept over the years and brought into her own family. 

Her eldest wasn’t two when our daughter started reading the story of Clara and her Christmas dream/adventures. When she saw the video of the ballet, the little one was hooked. One day, as she watched, her grandfather attempted to engage her in conversation about the various characters and she commented, “I want to watch it by myself.” Poppy stopped talking!

She watched Angelina Ballerina as well and liked to do "ballet moves" as she called them, with the characters during each show. Our girl loved dance, especially ballet!

Her parents, wanting to encourage her interest, enrolled her in classes the year she turned three. She enjoyed them, with an enthusiasm that was infectious. Her younger sister started the ballet moves at an early age too and imitated her sister. 

The younger girl was heart broken every time her sister headed off to ballet class because she couldn’t go.

The elder girl especially enjoyed the year-end show, where she was on stage twice. 

She enjoyed every minute of the performance and is looking forward to this year's show when she is on stage three times. That girl has a flair for the dramatic as you can see.

Before Christmas last year, the family went to Moncton to see the local production of the Nutcracker and our girl was enchanted with everything about the show. Even the two year old, though a tad squirmy, was also fascinated with the performance.

Last weekend, their grandfather and I took the girls to see an afternoon performance of Sleeping Beauty by Ballet Jörgen at the local theatre. Tchaikovsky's music means ballet to the girls and when the curtain rose and the music started, they were enthralled. The older one was riveted for the whole performance while the younger checked in periodically. She was her three year old self for the two hour show. 

                                                         Ready for Sleeping Beauty

While I love ballet and classical music, my husband is a country music fan, but he wanted to experience the performance with the girls. Besides, one of us could take a misbehaving child out of the theatre while the other stayed. We joked about him needing to be the one who would have to be taken out. His love of his granddaughters outweighed his own reluctance to watch ballet.

The older girl has told her mother that she dances in her dreams and has performed the role of Clara from the Nutcracker. On this day, during the intermission, before the curtain went up again, she told me, “You know Nanny, I'm going to be up there one day." 

Who knows what Sylvie will do, what she will become? Her ability may not match her interest in ballet. I do know that for a five year old, she has an incredible attention span and interest in dance, especially ballet. We, her family, will continue to encourage her to follow her dreams. 

Next year, it's Swan Lake...without her grandfather!

 

Nutcracker

Again this year, my husband and I accompanied our daughter and our grandchildren to see the ballet, The Nutcracker, Casse-Noisette, in Moncton, New Brunswick. The show, staged by The Academy of Classical Ballet and Modern Dances is performed at the Capitol Theatre and accompanied by Orchestre Tutta Musica.

New for us this year was our two and a half year old grandson who saw the ballet for the first time as did my husband. They have usually stayed together at the hotel while the girls, their mother and I take in the ballet.

The two year old was fascinated by the music and the performances. From the first orchestral sounds he gave his full attention, and when the curtain went up, he was captivated.

His sisters have seen the show for years now and rarely turn their heads once the show begins. The costumes, performances and the music are better every year.

At one point, as the music became dramatic and the Nutcracker fought the Rat King, the two year old said, “Oh no.” At other points, he handed off his blanket and doll to his mother and leaned forward to take everything in. Late in the second act, he fell asleep in her arms. He is only two after all.

Their grandfather was another story. For him, the music is like scratches on a blackboard and ballet is not his favourite. He enjoyed the tap dancing of the toy soldiers best of all. However, he was glad when the ballet was over. He would have liked a nap too.

The rest of the family hopes to take in the show again next year.

The Nutcracker

As part of our Christmas tradition when our daughter was young, we read the story of the Nutcracker. It was one of the books our daughter kept over the years and brought into her own family. 

Sylvie wasn’t two when Claire started reading the story of Clara and her Christmas dream/adventures. When she saw the video of the ballet, Sylvie was hooked. One day, as she watched the video, her grandfather attempted to engage her in conversation about the various characters and Sylvie commented, “I want to watch it by myself.” Poppy stopped talking!

Caitlin met Clara and the cast via book and video as well. Meanwhile, at three, Sylvie joined ballet, and has enjoyed it for four years. Caitlin joined at three as well.

Their parents discovered that Casse-Noisette, Nutcracker, was performed by a ballet school in Moncton, New Brunswick, before Christmas every year. Moncton is across the Confederation Bridge but less than two hours from home. The family has seen the performance for four years now. From the beginning, the girls paid rapt attention. It is an important part of their Christmas tradition.

This year, their grandfather and I had the opportunity to go with the children and Claire to Moncton. Poppy stayed with eighteen month old Owen, while the girls took in the ballet. It was such fun!

The dancers were wonderful, from the tiniest mice to the oldest parents! The costumes and sets were so colourful and well done, each a perfect representation of the part and the setting. The small orchestra, a first for the show which previously featured recorded music, filled the theatre with its big sound.

Those familiar musical phrases of Tchaikovsky came to life. The piece, Opus 71, was written for ballet and first performed in 1892. Imagine all the people who have watched the ballet and listened to that glorious music in that time!

Our girls were enchanted as were the adults! I couldn’t help but wonder how many future generations will fall under the spell of Nutcracker. 

The final show

She cried to break her heart. Her mother, our daughter, wrapped her arms around her oldest child, Sylvie, and asked what was wrong.

“Dance is over again,” Sylvie replied through the sobs.

This was the scene after the final show for the 2017-18 season. The last ten months were busy for both granddaughters, as dance classes filled the calendar. At seven, Sylvie took three classes and assisted her teacher with a class of younger students. Five year old Caitlin took two classes.

The showcase for the students who worked so hard all year was a treat. From the little four year olds to the senior students, everyone did a wonderful job.

This year Sylvie had the stage to herself for a brief time as Snow White, summoning princesses on stage, the girls from the class she helped with all year. She proceeded to put them to sleep with a bite from that special apple. 

Sylvie also performed with her tap and ballet classes, never missing a beat.

Caitlin performed her ballet steps as a mouse. She was not shy on stage and performed every movement well. She was the cutest mouse ever!

For now, dancing is a passion for both girls. Who knows what the future will bring but Sylvie and Caitlin are already talking about what classes they want to do next year.