Nutcracker 2010

In December, Sydney participated in 6 Christmas shows for dance plus an additional performance of the Nutcracker a few days before Christmas. Sydney had a blast and I was exhausted after the unglamourous job of the behind the scenes mama! I am very good at make-up and hair...specifically sleek buns after all those shows. Oh, and I can do hot rollers in her hair in less than 10 minutes. The Nutcracker was a pretty cool experience for Sydney. She was a Snowflake (and performed during the Snow Fairies' scene) in the Moscow Ballet's Nutcracker in Phoenix. We arrived at the huge theater downtown several hours before the performance and went in the stage entrance. The security guards waved us on by and down the stairs we went to do hair and costumes, pictures and rehearsal.
Most of the dancers spoke only Russian but a few spoke a little bit of English, at least enough to communicate about the ballet performance. During the dress rehearsal, a few of the moms snuck in to the front row seats to watch. It was pretty cool to see all the dancers up close, especially since our seats were pretty far up in the balcony. Here's Sydney right before the show was about to start. I left her backstage and went to find my seat. I was so nervous for her once I realized how huge the audience was. There is this part in the middle of the Snow Fairies' scene where the Snowflakes went to the front of the stage (close to the audience) and I didn't want Sydney to get stage fright.

Although, this isn't a picture of Sydney's specific group, this is just the one part where the snowflakes are out on the edge of the stage. I couldn't have taken pictures even if I wanted to because our seats were too far up. It was a beautiful performance and Sydney did a great job. There was no need for me to worry.

At the curtain call, Herr Drosselmeyer lead Sydney (she was holding onto the rest of the Snowflakes) out on stage. She thought that was pretty cool. Sophie loved the whole ballet from start to finish. I can't even begin to count the number of times we have listend to the Nutcracker soundtrack since October. Ha, we are still listening to it at least once a week, although I hope the CD goes into hiding soon. There is only so much Nutcracker I can tolerate. Sydney loves to dance and especially loves ballet. I have to admit it was so amazing to see my little girl on the big stage with all the beautiful ballerinas!