Students shine in The Nutcracker

The curtains open, and the audience is greeted by the beloved Tchaikovsky score and a bustling, joyous party unfolds before their eyes. Clara receives her treasured nutcracker, and then is warmly greeted by CVHS senior Jaliya Wilkinson in a silvery dress and shiny pointe shoes for her role as snow queen.

This was the first act of the Conservatory of Classical Ballet(CCB) annual production of The Nutcracker, which featured several CVHS students, including Jaliya Wilkinson, Taylor Lim, Halley Lin-Jones, Olivia Chan, and Isabelle Maxwell. They performed various roles in the two-show run of their production on Dec. 6 and 7 at the San Leandro Performing Arts Center.

“This was CCB’s 13th annual Nutcracker. It started as a suite of dances primarily from Act 2, and as the school and students’ abilities grew, the production was extended to a full-length production,” said director Ann Fisher.

Watching the performances, people might not guess the amount of time and energy the dancers have spent the past few months on refining their dancing.

“Rehearsing in the studio makes us focus on technique and nailing the steps, but when we get to the stage it’s more about performing and bringing out artistic quality,” said Lim.

Lim and Wilkinson have been training at the school since they were as young as four years old. As they developed more skill and strength, they began to take on more challenging roles in the productions. They’ve done it all, from little “peppermints” in red and white dresses, to the smooth, wispy Arabian “coffee,” and even to the technically demanding dance of the “Sugarplum Fairy.”

The various characters in Act 2 of The Nutcracker all represent types of sweet treats like Marzipan, peppermints, and chocolate.The choreography emulates the mood and style of each dessert as well as the specific culture it references.

“My favorite role is Spanish chocolate because it has a lot of exciting jumps in it, and it’s just really fun to perform,” said Lim.

For these girls, what started out as a recreational activity has become a serious life pursuit. Wilkinson hopes to turn her ballet training into a career after she graduates next year.

“I’m planning to apply to colleges with good dance programs. I hope to get into a company eventually but I’m trying to keep all of my options open, and maybe even explore new forms of dance,” she said.

All dancers are aware of the competitive nature of their profession, and Wilkinson knows there will be challenges in pursuing her dance career.

Fisher encourages anyone with any interest in ballet, whether for recreational or vocational purposes, to take classes.

“There are so many benefits one can gain from training in ballet. Ballet uses the entire body, as well as a good deal of mental acuity,” she said.

Already, Fisher is looking forward to their spring showcase on June 6, which will feature dances by many guest choreographers. Every year, she tries to bring something new to these performances.

“Our studio may not have a lot of people in our productions,” said Lim. “But we do work very hard to bring the best quality dance moves to the stage.”