What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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8 WHAT'S UP! NOVEMBER 18-24, 2018 JOCELYN MURPHY NWA Democrat-Gazette I t is nearly synonymous with the Christmas season: Clara, her Nutcracker Prince and the Mouse King chassé their way across stages all over the world each year as thousands make a viewing of "The Nutcracker" part of their holiday traditions. The ballet adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffmann's story set to the iconic Tchaikovsky score will kick off the holiday season for many in Northwest Arkansas with four different companies hosting performances. The Walton Arts Center welcomes Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet back to Fayetteville Nov. 23-25 as 50 local children join the professional company on stage. Ballet Westside's dance team Northwest Arkansas Regional Dance Company in Rogers, Fort Smith's Western Arkansas Ballet and Bentonville's Northwest Arkansas Conservatory of Classical Ballet also offer their takes on the beloved story in December. Here, get to know some of the faces bringing the classic ballet to life and visit each company's website for full cast and performance information. Walton Arts Center 2018 Children's Cast Adelyn Bramlett Role: Party Boy & Quinn Bramlett Role: Polar Bear • What is your favorite dance move to perform? Adelyn — My favorite dance move is a Firebird leap. Quinn — A leg lift. • What is your favorite item in your dance bag? Adelyn — Everyone at practice knows I have a lot of crazy things in my dance bag, so my favorite would be my toy handcuffs. • What is the best advice you have ever been given? Adelyn — My best advice would be that you can't sit around and dream it, you have to go out and do it to achieve all your dreams. Quinn — To try as hard as you can and have fun! • What do you love most about ballet? Adelyn — Ballet makes me feel like a princess and that it is my time to shine. Quinn — Warming up. Brady Chandler Role: Reindeer • What is it like to work with the professional dancers of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet? It feels like I'm a part of something amazing because I'm dancing with professionals. • Who is your favorite character to dance? I loved when I was a gingersnap in "Hansel and Gretel" with Arkansas Festival Ballet. • What do you want non-dancers to know about what you do? That it is not easy. It's very hard and takes a lot of strength. • What is the best advice you have ever been given? To create a specific character for each dance you do. It really helps with expression. Carrington Cartwright Role: Angel • What are you most looking forward to about dancing alongside the professional dancers of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet? I can't wait to see the pretty costumes. • What is your favorite dance move to perform? Miss Annika is helping me work on my fouettés right now; they are so fun. • Who is your favorite dancer? My sister, Chandler, is my favorite dancer — she is a Silver Star. My mom said if I am not too busy when I get big that I can maybe try to be a Silver Star, too. • What is your favorite item in your dance bag? My Polaroid camera; we take silly pictures at dance sometimes. Eleanor Eichmann Role: Party Girl • Is there anything just for fun in your dance bag? Candy. • What do you want non-dancers to know about what you do? It's harder than it looks. • What is the best advice you have ever been given? A dancer's body is like a noodle: If you don't warm up and stretch before you start dancing, you'll break. If you warm up and stretch first, you'll be as flexible as a cooked noodle. • What do you love most about ballet? The challenging aspect of it. Emalyn Johnson Role: Mountie • What are you most looking forward to about dancing alongside the professional dancers of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet? This is my second time to have this experience. It was so fun last time. I was a polar bear. They are so nice. And they dance beautifully. • What is your favorite item in your dance bag? Is there anything just for fun in there? Yes! I always have my No. 3 Kyler necklace for good luck. And gum! • What do you want non-dancers to know about what you do? It is hard! Yes, it is fun also. But it takes a lot of practice. And it's an important art form. • What do you love most about ballet? It's something I can share with my mom. She loves to watch me dance and most times she is the one blubbering in the audience. But it's our "thing," and I love sharing that with her. Emilea G. Ree Role: Mountie • What are you most looking forward to about dancing alongside the professional dancers of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet? I get to see what they do and hopefully become one. • What is your favorite dance move to perform? The Floss! • Who is your favorite dancer? Myself • What is the best advice you have ever been given? Practice makes better – no one is perfect. Emily Thomas Role: Reindeer • What made you want to become a dancer? I love that through dance I can express myself and my feelings. I also get to meet all kinds of people and make connections with people who I might otherwise never get to meet. • Who is your favorite character to dance? I don't know if I have a favorite, but I have done a lot of musical theater dance, and I like characters that are really animated and silly. • What do you love most about ballet? I love that it's the foundation of all dance, and for me it's relaxing to both watch and dance. I also love that it looks graceful and easy, yet it takes so much skill and hard work to make it look like that. Gracie Love Kennett Role: Reindeer • When did you start performing on stage? I was in my first stage performance when I was 3 years old. This is my 10th year performing on stage. I love it more every year! • What is your favorite item in your dance bag? My water bottle. After a long day of classes or rehearsals, I definitely need lots of water! COVER STORY Adelyn & Quinn Bramlett Chandler Eichmann Johnson Thomas Ree Cartwright Kennett See Ballet Page 38