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Bakersfield Christmas ballet tradition celebrates 30 years
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Posted by LisaW Thu Dec 6, 2007 16:26:47 PST
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0 responses 0 comments For 30 years, the Civic Dance Center and the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra have brought the beloved tradition of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker ballet to Bakersfield.

To celebrate, returning guests and Southwest Bakersfield teen dancers, will be there to make the most magical performance to date.

Many of the dancers in Nutcracker are not only dedicated to dance.
These are teens who are involved in honors and AP classes at school, student government, clubs and organizations, soccer, choir, band and more.

“Dancers in Nutcracker are so committed and disciplined, especially the older girls. I don’t know how they do it,” said Civic’s owner, Cindy Trueblood. “I guess from a young age dancing here they just learned to manage their time.”

Time management is key, said some of the teens.

“It takes a lot of organization, my planner is my best friend,” said Southwest resident Hannah Warren, 17, who will dance as Lead Reed Flute in cast  A, a snow maiden in the snow scene, Spanish Princess and a mouse in the performance. “Coming here is a relief in itself, too. You get to just come in and dance it all out for a few hours.”

Trueblood said the event wouldn’t be possible without local supporters.

“Our community has supported this for 30 years. That says something about Bakersfield because basically we are a small town,” Trueblood said. “It’s extremely exciting to bring these high caliber dancers here.”

Among the special guests are Stephanie Powell and Duncan Cooper.

Powell is a dance professor at Long Beach City College. Her training began right here in Bakersfield at Civic Dance Center. Following high school, at West High School in Southwest Bakersfield, Powell continued to train as a dancer and went on to dance professionally with several dance companies including Oakland Ballet Company, San Francisco Opera, the Los Angeles production of the Broadway show “The Lion King” and The Dance Theatre of Harlem where she met her dance partner, Cooper.

Nutcracker is nothing new for these dancers.

Powell will dance the role of Sugar Plum Fairy, and Cooper will play Cavalier.
Other Civic alumni include Lauren Saldubehere as Dream Clara and Scott Weber as the Prince.  Additionally, at the end of Saturday’s performance, anyone who has danced over the years in Nutcracker will be invited to share the stage with this year’s cast.

The addition of professional dancers is not only a delight for the audience, but for the young dancers as well.

“It is exciting being able to dance with Stephanie and Duncan and all the alumni who are coming back. It’s just such a treat to dance with them because I know they get other offers and they chose us,” said Southwest resident Lynn Tasker. “Just their presence and their ability is so nice to see and be around.”

Tasker is a junior at Stockdale High School. She will be dancing as ribbon candy, an Arabian dancer, a snow princess and a flower. During Nutcracker season, she is at the studio nearly every day.

Two weeks after the final Nutcracker performance, Stockdale has finals for all students.

“It’s not really that bad,” Tasker said. “When I have off time, I try to study and do homework, and I try to get a lot done at school.”

The staff at Civic does all they can to be supportive of the students academically.
“They try to study in between dance classes and when we are having rehearsals at the Convention Center, we set up a homework area with teachers to keep things quiet and to provide tutoring,” Trueblood said.

These days, it is a rare thing for young dancers to get the privilege of a live orchestra to dance with, Trueblood said. To save on costs, many dance companies use prerecorded music.

“We make sure the dancers know every year that to dance with the full symphony is a big deal. Just the fact that these are students and they get to dance with a symphony, that doesn’t happen very often,” Trueblood said. “It is an amazing opportunity, and I make sure they know that.”

Trueblood’s emphasis on this is not lost on the students.

“It is such an honor to dance with the symphony. It is really neat because they are working off you, and you are working off them,” Tasker said. “It has its ups and downs too. You don’t know if John (Farrer) is going to play faster or slower so it is work on your part to change and adapt to the music.”

In addition to time, Nutcracker and ballet in general is a major financial commitment. Pointe shoes used by advanced dancers cost $60 to $70 per pair. Some only last for two to three classes and then the dancers need new ones.

On average, dancers go through nine pairs of shoes from beginning of Nutcracker rehearsals to the final performance, according to Trueblood.

Some of the dancers go through significantly more shoes.

Southwest resident, Bethany Feil, 17, said with her old brand of shoes, they would be “dead” after about a week and a half of use. That meant 15 to 16 pairs of shoes during Nutcracker season. Feil recently found a new brand of shoe. They are a pricey $90, but last about three months.

Feil will dance as the lead reed flute in cast B, the Spanish princess, a snow maiden and a flower.

A senior at Stockdale High School, Feil is fairly new to the ballet. The Nutcracker has been a holiday favorite for years though.

“I just love the music of Nutcracker. I didn’t come to this studio until five years ago,” she said. “When I was 7 years old, I saw it with my mom, and I wanted to be just like these girls. I just didn’t actually think it would happen. Then when I was in my first show, I was so nervous, I couldn’t believe it was happening.”

Feil plans to incorporate dance into her future after high school.

“I never want to stop dancing. I want to become a physical therapist specifically for dancers,” she said. “I always want it to be a part of my life.”

Even though she doesn’t dance in the show, Trueblood puts a lot of work into the show herself. Sewing and adjusting costumes, critiquing choreography and organizing everything. On some days, she realizes she has not even budgeted time for meals. Yet she continues with the tradition year after year.

“The love of  The Nutcracker is what drives us to keeping doing it. The dancers look forward to it each year,” she said. “We have talked about stopping, it sure would make my life easier, but it is really hard when the children are so eager. It really is such a wonderful thing to dance too.”


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The 30th annual presentation of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker by The Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra and Civic Dance Center

Dates and times: Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 8 at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Dec. 9 at 1 p.m.
Tickets: Adults $36, students 18 and under $18, children 6 and under are free.

— For more information or for tickets, visit: www.bakersfieldsymphony.org or call 323-7928.

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