Community Corner
Manassas Dancers Prepare to Perform "Nutcracker"
Manassas ballet company prepares to perform Nutcracker this Saturday.
As snow is starting to fall and the weather is getting colder, residents of Manassas can look forward to the traditional delights of the season that inevitably come along with all the cold weather.
One of those delights is the Nutcracker ballet. The Nutcracker is a two-act play featuring a young girl name Clara. The Nutcracker ballet is based on the story of "The Nutcracker and the King of Mice" written by E.T.A. Hoffman.
The Manassas Ballet Academy is performing the only full- symphony orchestra production of the Nutcracker ballet in the Washington, D.C. area this season.
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Amy Wolfe, the artistic director and former co-owner of the ballet academy, is playing the role of the Snow Queen in this year's Nutcracker production.
"People love coming to the Nutcracker," she said.
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Wolfe encourages residents to attend the Nutcracker because, "It's part of the Christmas experience," she added.
Wolfe will be playing the role of the Snow Queen this year along side 22-year-old Sarah Gaydash, a former student who is now part of the professional company, who will be playing part of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Amy Hilford, 16, who has multiple parts, including Clara's friend and military doll and has been studying at the school of dance for the past 11 years.
Dancing is more than just a job, she said. "I like the emotional value of it," Gaydash said.
Gaydash has been dancing with the company for the past five years and plans to continue dancing with the company for the rest of her career.
Hilford will be graduating next year and has high hopes of the future productions of the Nutcracker. "Hopefully I'm Clara next year, the major role," Hilford said.
Wolfe said the elements of a great dancer is someone with a body that is naturally gifted for dance, encompasses musicality, has excellent training, and has experience in dancing from childhood.
The Manassas Ballet Academy will be holding its production of the Nutcracker on Saturday at7: 30 p.m. and Sunday, December 12 at 3 p.m.
There will be another production on Friday, December 17 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 18 at 3 p.m. Tickets range in price from $35.00 to $55.00, which is the orchestra level seating.