By: Camryn Ragland ’18 and Erin Lynch ’18

While many students spend their afternoons and evenings at various sports practices or clubs, some spend their time leaping and turning at dance. These students have recently been involved in the Westport Academy of Dance’s performance of The Nutcracker that took place on December 3 and 4 at Staples High School.

These dancers endure tough and extensive practices in order to perfect their dance technique so they are able to partake in this production. The training starts much earlier than one would imagine.

“The last two and a half weeks in August, before we get our parts for the show, we spend two hours every day learning almost all the dances we could potentially have to perform,” Izzy Chun ’18 said.

In past years, the seniors have taken lead roles in the production, however, this year with the absence of their presence the juniors are being asked to step up and take a bigger role.

“This year was really different than other years because we had no seniors so the vibe was really different and it was casted kind of differently,” Chun said.

Three key performers in this year’s show included Chun who played the role of the Snow Queen, Kelley Flynn ’18 who played the role of the Candy Cane and Rachel Wolfe ’18 who played the role of the Shepherdess.

All three girls have been performing in The Nutcracker since a young age and have grown up in the dance program. They have been featured in many parts including, the blue and red soldiers, snow, flowers, and mice.

This hard work comes not only from high school students, but also those in middle school as well. “It’s a really great opportunity and really fun to work with the younger kids because they look up to us so much and are always really playful and excited,” Wolfe ’18 said.

Chun agrees that working with the younger kids can be a great experience. “This year I got to dance in a scene with first graders and they were the cutest,” she said.

With younger kids able to participate as well, most of the students have been involved in this production for many years. “I have been part of the Nutcracker since I was six or seven” Flynn said. Wolfe has been a part of the production for 11 years herself.

With graduation coming up quickly, next year provides these juniors with their last chance to participate in the show.

“I’m really sad about this part of my high school career coming to a close, I’m excited for college but Nutcracker is my favorite thing that I do every year and I’ll miss it a lot,” Chun ’18.

Overall, the production is a special and rewarding experience that the dancers really enjoy.

“I think something cool about Nutcracker is you see yourself progress over the years, idolizing over a role when you’re younger and then getting to dance it, gives you a sense of accomplishment,” said Chun.