Nutcracker

Olivia got to perform in the Nutcracker this year. Before you are too impressed, it wasn't some big fancy professional version or anything. It was with the city recreation department. They had classes for all different age groups to be the different parts. Olivia was in the youngest class and got to be a Garland Girl. She took a class once a week to learn her part and had a week of rehearsals and just finished the performance weekend where she was in 3 of the performances. The cast did a really good job and it was a lot of fun to watch.

Here is Olivia waiting backstage to go on. This was the middle of the 3 shows and I was working backstage.



Here she is sitting on the floor and the closest I could come to getting her to do a pretty ballerina pose. Her dress is pure fluffiness.



Olivia and her two friends from school who were Sugar Plum Fairies. I think I will be able to get Olivia to work hard in ballet classes all year just to be able to be a Fairy in the production next year if I want. :)



It is physically impossible to get a good picture from the audience without being able to use the flash, but here is an idea of the cute flower garlands the Garland Girls got to dance around with. I *think* Olivia is on the far right.



The whole thing was a lot of fun, but had me really torn as to whether to encourage her to continue with dance classes or other things. It's not something she's extremely passionate about, although she does enjoy it. One part of me thinks we should keep trying different things in case there is that one thing she can't live without doing we might find; but then again if she keeps taking dance classes it is good experience for all kinds of performing or even sports like cheerleading and the school plays she might do some day. So I think that another dance class will at least be on the schedule for this winter. :)