I have a lot of memories from when I was a child. My earliest clear memory was when I was only two- and there are a lot of things I remember since then. One of my most magical memories though, has always been remembering the time I saw the Nutcracker ballet. When I was in first grade we went on a field trip to see the Nutcracker. I remember sitting and watching the ballet in awe and wonderment. I recall vividly the excitement I felt as the tree grew above Clara, the merriment of the little dancers coming out from under the tall lady's dress, the nervousness of the battle between the nutcracker and the mouse king, and my distrust of Uncle Drosselmeyer. (It is that memory that makes me sad that I didn't have glasses until third grade because I think of how much better that ballet would have been if I could have seen it). I remember seeing some of the dancing mice in a hallway during the intermission of the show. I was amazed that they were MY age- just kids and they were performing for me. I have loved the Nutcracker ever since!
It is because of this memory that every time I see a billboard, poster, commercial or other advertisement for the Nutcracker a part of me longs to go. It is because of this memory that I decided that once my girls became old enough to appreciate and be able to sit through the performance, I would be taking them to see the Nutcracker. This year, I finally got my chance.
Dance Theater of Tennessee was performing one night only in Clarksville. In addition to that, they were offering a discounted rate for military families. I could take my girls to see the performance for only $30 (just more than what the ticket would cost me at full rate). I wanted to jump for joy, but really, I couldn't. I would have to buy the tickets at the door, and I was not sure I would actually be able to get them. I would allow myself to be truly excited only after I had tickets in my hand. For this reason also, I kept our destination secret from my girls. Try as they did, they could not guess where we would end up.
After a busy day of baking and crafting with good friends, we finally headed out on our date. We stopped first and got some dinner and then pulled up to the University. We had been by the building many times, but had never gone in. They were apprehensive about why we were at such a large building. I explained that it was a college and our date would take place inside. Alexis asked if she could wait outside as she was nervous because, "we aren't really old enough to go to college." As we entered the lobby the girls relaxed and discovered that we would be viewing the Nutcracker ballet. They read and looked through their programs and (not-so-patiently) waited for the house to open. (we had arrived very early due to my desire to get tickets and the girls speedy dinner) At last, the time came and we chose some seats. I sat and talked with my girls as we waited. Emily wanted to dance on the stage while she waited. Lexi kept watching the clock and counting down the time until we started. William nursed and slept.
My excitement grew beyond what I thought was possible when the narrator first spoke through the speakers. The lights dimmed and we were transported into Clara's world. I think I spent a quarter of my time watching my girls as they stared in wonderment at the stage. Their faces glowed with the magic of what they were seeing. My heart glowed with the love I had for them and the joy I had for this experience.
Emily leaned over just a few times to share her thoughts with me.
"Are they going to have a real battle?"
"Which one is Gabby? (more about her later)"
"Snowflakes! Wow! See the snowflakes!"
I watched as they clapped with all their heart. After a brief intermission they switched seats and I got to hear Lexi's reactions.
"what's that kind of dancer mom?" (she asked this as each new dancer came on stage)
"maybe it is a sugarplum mom" (she said this anytime she was unsatisfied with the answer to the above question)
"That was AMAZING!" (when the Russians did their two-man cartwheel)
"They look like angels, are they angels mom?"
"Those are Arabian dancers, why are they called Arabian?" (brief explanation from me) "Yeah, like the Arabian horse"
The show ended and the girls clapped their hearts out. The show was over, but the fun was not. There was going to be a meet and greet with the dancers. I was so excited for my girls to get the chance to meet and talk to some of the dancers they had just watched. My girls first wanted to find Gabby. They had met Gabby Wednesday at the library. Gabby and a couple other dancers (whose names we did not know) came to the library to read to the kids. They also danced for and with the kids. Then they let the kids take pictures with them. That alone would have been good enough, but they took it to the next level. They spoke to each child, learned their names, watched them dance, made them feel like they were there just for that kid. The same feeling of kindness permeated the meet and greet. My girls saw and talked with young dancers, not much older than themselves. They saw Gabby and she took them to meet the sugar plum fairy. Lexi got to tell the Russian dancer how amazing his cartwheel was. Emi was excited that he had the same last name as us. We had brief, but meaningful conversations with several dancers. (I am so upset I decided to leave my camera in the car because I didn't want to try to juggle it and the baby)
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| Phone picture of the girls before the show started. |
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