November 29, 2007

On Saturday, Dec. 8 there will be two performances of “Scenes from the Nutcracker” at The Hood River Middle School Auditorium, performed by local ballet students of the Columbia Gorge Dance Academy.

This is the 10th annual benefit performance for FISH and Hospice of the Gorge. The public is invited to come see this traditional holiday ballet by bringing canned food for FISH, or a cash donation for Hospice.

Performance times are 1 and 4 p.m. Different casts will be featured at each performance.

Nancy Clement, ballet director at Columbia Gorge Dance Academy, merges her experience of dancing in many Nutcrackers over the years when she danced professionally with Ballet West, a ballet company based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and her enthusiasm to share this traditional ballet with her students in this production.

The local production of “Scenes from the Nutcracker” began with her students dancing at the local senior centers, Down Manor, Parkhurst House, and Hood River Care Center. Community interest began to grow, as did the number of dancers, and 10 years ago this production was moved onto the stage and opened to the public as an annual fund-raiser.

Katie Virk, a junior at Hood River Valley High School, and Kayla Walker, a home-schooled junior, will each dance the lead role of Sugar Plum Fairy. HRVHS seniors Kaytlin Hughes and Bridget Wade will share the role of Snow Queen.

Claire Merriam and Meredith Virk are this year’s Clara, while Emmalyn Lindsey and Kara Kiyokawa play the part of Fritz. The Mechanical Dolls this year are Chloe Hight and Katie Ratliff and the Dancing Bears will be Amalia Sletmoe and Robin Wilbern.

Sara Donahue and Katie Virk will dance the role of the Dew Drop Fairy. Returning to the cast this year is Gavin McAlpine, who will play the role of Heir Drosselmeyer, the town toymaker. He will dance with Rachel Krummel, Hood River High School drama teacher, who plays the maid.

A special feature this year is the addition of guest dancers Melissa Vovou and Vladimir Kuzkin, who will dance the Grand Pas de Deux.

Vovou grew up in Odell, studying ballet with Bev Bridgewater in Hood River and Jacquie Kunsman in Oregon City. She danced with the Marin Ballet in California, and most recently has performed on cruise ships. That is where she met Vladimir Kuzkin, a dancer from Russia.

Kuzkin trained at Tashkent Dance Academy in Uzbekistan, near Afghanistan, where he grew up, and then moved to Moscow, where he danced professionally. Clement is thrilled that they arrived back in town, between jobs, just in time to join us in this Nutcracker performance.

“What a treat it will be for the Hood River Audience to get to see this quality of ballet,” she said.

The majority of the ballet is staged by Clement, based on the version by the late Willam C. Christensen, the first American credited with choreographing The Nutcracker. Margaret Dallman creates the lovely snow scene while Theresa Mason, ballet teacher at The Academy, works with the Sugar Plum Fairies.

Most of the scenery has been artistically designed over the years by Janet O’Rourke. She and Phyllis McGinnis have sewn beautiful costumes for each scene. Rachel Krummel and her students from the Hood River Valley High School Drama Department volunteer lighting and backstage assistance.

Numerous parents come forward each year to assist as “Helping Moms and Dads,” donate money for sets and costumes and lend their support to ensure a successful production. Enough money was raised this year to purchase a performance floor covering, which will not only protect the new stage at the middle school but will be a safer, less slippery surface for the dancers.

“Scenes from the Nutcracker” is a gift to the community, as well as a benefit for FISH and Hospice of the Gorge.