Katie Ging Photography
It’s the season of wonderment and togetherness, and for many in our area, a time for families to gather and experience the joy of the holidays. Berks Ballet Theatre has hosted many families at the Scottish Rite Cathedral for their annual performances of The Nutcracker and its long been a tradition for the season, but have you ever stopped to wonder — just what makes this show so magical?
The magic of the traditional story goes beyond the intricate costumes and larger-than-life set pieces. In fact, it all begins long before the ballet hits the stage. The dancers' anticipation and excitement around the release of the cast list is when the spark ignites. Company dancers and conservatory students alike eagerly await auditioning for, and ultimately rehearsing, the roles that bring the inherent artistry to the stage. When rehearsals begin, the first notes of the beloved Tchaikovsky score can be heard in the studio spaces in the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, bringing joy to those in and around the space.
From Artistic Director Kelly Barber, and Ballet Master/Resident Choreographer Nathan Bland’s standpoint, the magic begins as they see the dancers take ownership of the choreography they have been given and improve from one rehearsal to the next. Seeing each dancer grow — no matter a little Mouse or the Snow Queen — is one of the greatest joys they can take from their roles.
After weeks of rehearsals and community events, “theater week” is here before we know it! For a dancer, there is nothing more fulfilling than taking what’s learned in the studio and dancing in the theater. The thrill of taking what you have been perfecting and bringing it to an expansive, historical space never vanishes. As the costumes and set pieces are unloaded, each dancer finds their spot in the dressing room and prepares themselves for that first moment when they step on stage.
Stage rehearsals wind down and the theater transforms into a holiday wonderland, and then, the final and most important piece of the magic trickles in, the audience! The dancers are bubbling with excitement and a healthy dose of nerves as they hear the audience fill with the noises of joy and anticipation for the performance to begin.
For some, it’s their first time attending a performance of The Nutcracker with Berks Ballet Theatre, and for others, it’s been their go-to holiday tradition. As the lights dim and the conductor readies the orchestra to play the overture, the curtain rises and all of the proper elements come together to create memories that will be cherished for years to come.
Join Berks Ballet Theatre on Dec. 15 at 1 and 6pm and Dec. 16 at 2pm at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in West Reading. All three performances are accompanied by The Reading Pops Orchestra and guest artists Ingrid Silva and Dylan Santos of Dance Theatre of Harlem as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, respectively.
