I Had to Steal These Pictures
I waited 30 years to see my first performance of The Nutcracker ballet. I saw it with my 4 year old grandson Liam, whose attention was good (although his enthusiasm was above a whisper). He stayed engaged at least until intermission.
We were very proud that a member of Floyd’s Springhouse Community School (a project-based school for teens where my husband is an adviser) was dancing as a junior member of the Southwest Virginia Ballet, the company that put on the show (for the 18th holiday season). A group from the school made the hour long drive down the mountain to take in the performance that, on this day, was geared to school aged children. I was already in Roanoke, babysitting.
Toys come to life. Snow falls on stage. A giant Christmas tree grows to giant proportions under the spell of a magician. There were sugar plum fairies, toy soldiers fighting mice and even a giant dragon. The beautiful music, gorgeous sets, elaborately detailed costumes and graceful dancing made the show worth the 30 year wait. I’m already looking forward to next year.
As far as I can tell today is the last day for the performance at the Berglund Performing Center (Civic Center) at 3:00. Check out the webpage of Southwest Virginia Ballet, which is celebrating its 25 season HERE. Note: No lights were displayed or flashed and no animals harmed in the taking of the above pictures.
_________Our World Tuesday
December 14th, 2014 7:32 pm
Looks like an outstanding performance, but I am guessing it would be more interesting to a 7-year-old boy. Still he may get there in a year or two.
December 14th, 2014 8:13 pm
He was very interested but one act was enough for him.
December 15th, 2014 12:47 pm
We had a couple school trips to see The Nutcracker while in grade school. A friend and I attended a performance about ten years ago, since neither of us had seen it since we were kids, though we played the music every year in HS orchestra, and were amazed at how much of it we did not remember.
December 15th, 2014 4:41 pm
I saw it for the first time with a grandaughter … We were celebrating her 6th birthday! Been a few years ago… That little girl is now the mother of two little boys. And unless the toys played football, I’m pretty sure my great-grandsons wouldn’t make it through Act I. Sigh.
December 15th, 2014 5:55 pm
Such a beautiful ballet for the Christmas season.
December 16th, 2014 10:22 am
Such a magical ballet…. and perfect for this time of year
Mollyxxx
December 18th, 2014 1:37 pm
[…] It’s been a season of firsts: Not only did I wait 30 years before finally getting to see The Nutcracker, the day after that, I watched my first cakewalk. See […]
July 11th, 2016 3:45 pm
I was looking up images for SVB and came upon your blog. How wonderful that you came to the performance (2 years ago). My daughter was Clara this year and is pictured above with the Snow Queen. It is wonderful to see how Southwest Virginia Ballet’s school outreach performance reaches so many. This organization is wonderful and each year puts on such a wonderful production.