The Nutcracker Ballet

Well, Izzy and I shared a similar favourite Christmas gift this year: tickets to see the Ballet Jorgen perform the Nutcracker ballet live at the Centre in the Square in Kitchener. I have to say, I was at least as excited as she was (if not more!) to see the beloved ballet that I have such fond memories of as a child. As I've mentioned before, ballet was one of the few activities that I didn't try as a child. I always thought it was incredibly beautiful, so I'm not sure why I never chose to take lessons, but anyway... Some of my fondest Christmas memories were when my father would get tickets to the ballet and he and I would go together, just the two of us. My mom was never really into ballet and of course my brother wouldn't have been caught dead watching a live show, so it was a real treat to have some Daddy/daughter time alone (I also recall trips to Taco Bell because he and I seemed to be the only ones who enjoyed that too ;)

There is something absolutely magical about going to see a live show involving such incredibly talented people. Since starting to dance myself I have a totally new appreciation for the level of talent these dancers have. I know everyone thinks they are awesome, but I know that all the moves which seem so seamless and effortless are actually very difficult and often painful for the dancer (or just plain incredible). Jenn and I had fun watching since we both dance. Even though the girls sat between us, there were a couple of times in the show where we would gasp in awe at the same time while the principal ballerina spun herself in a circle of pirouettes probably 12-15 times! We even looked at each other with our jaws dropped at least once! Good times.

Probably my favourite part this time though was not watching the dancers feet carefully through my binoculars so I could study their style, but it was watching my daughter Izzy next to me as she watched the show. Her eyes were wide with amazement and she said over and over how much she loved it: "What's coming next Mommy?" she would ask, or "Is this the land of the treats?", and many other questions. Afterwards she must have asked me 4 or 5 times which part was my favourite and which outfit was my favourite. I would tell her the same thing over and over that I loved the dance with the sugar plum fairy & the prince. She would list off a handful of different dances (mostly involving the children in the show!). She was blown away. She even really appreciated the music which I loved. I made sure to tell her that it wasn't a recording but live music played by musicians in the pit. That was always my dad's favourite part as well, the music.

As we left the theatre Izzy asked again and again, "Mommy, do you think I'll ever be in the Nutcracker?". I would answer that I didn't know. "Mommy, did you ever dance in the Nutcracker?" she asked. I could barely stop from laughing, "no honey, I haven't ever been in the Nutcracker". I laugh at her innocence and sweetness. She got to watch a class that I took before Christmas and in her eyes I must be right up there on parr with the principal dancer :) Heehee. She could not understand why I couldn't be in a show like that and I tried to explain that the people in this show eat, sleep and dance and that's about it. It's amazing the sacrifices these dancers make to be able to dance like that.

She just doesn't get it :) So sweet. Here are some pictures that Jenn took on our trip:

Out in the lobby before the doors opened...we were pretty excited!!


Moments before the show: Izzy, Elizabeth & Jenn eagerly and excitedly await the ballet

Our own beautiful ballerinas :) Izz & Biz enjoying the post-show supper at McDonald's (maybe that's why Izzy threw up the next morning?!)

Mel