The Nutcracker

As a child I was enamored with ballerinas.  I thought they were so amazingly beautiful and graceful.  My favorite ballet was The Nutcracker and I rented the video of the ballet countless times, and danced around my living room to the music.  I didn't actually have the slightest idea what I was doing, since I never took ballet, but I imagined I was a beautiful ballerina, nonetheless.  Even though I loved the ballet so much, and continued to listen to the CD every Christmas and many times in between, I had never been to see The Nutcracker in real life.  That is, until today, and I had the perfect date.

Tessie loves The Nutcracker every bit as much as I do, if not more.  Watching her dance around our living room is like looking back in time.  The only difference is that at the age of nearly four, she knows more ballet than I ever have.  She puts on her ballet slippers, and looks as though she could be part of the production.

This morning I woke up at 6:45 to the sounds of the kids calling me.  When I walked into Tessie's room, she was totally naked, holding up a dress, and announced she wanted to get ready to go to the ballet.  I laughed, and then told her we had to wait a little while longer.  Later, we both got dressed up, and drove an hour and a half south, to watch The Santa Fe Aspen Ballet perform The Nutcracker.  It was hard to tell which of us was more excited as we said goodbye to Nick and Christian.  By the time we arrived at the theater Tes was literally jumping up and down to cross the street.  We found our seats, and waited anxiously for the curtain to rise.  When the music started Tessie took my hand and leaned forward.  Until the intermission, her eyes didn't leave the stage.  We both gasped, clapped, and cheered together.  At the close of the first act Tessie breathed "wow!"

At intermission we joined the throngs of children gathered around a table piled high with souvenirs.  I suggested that we get an ornament of Clara holding a small Nutcracker, but Tes shook her head.  She picked a very special Nutcracker ornament, and cradled him in her arms.  We walked back to our seats, and Tes continued to hold her Nutcracker as the second act began.  We marveled together at all the dancers, and smiled with delight when the Sugar Plum Fairy danced across the stage on the tips of her toes.  During the curtain call, Tessie cheered as enthusiastically as anyone in the room.

The most special part of the afternoon came after the performance, when Tessie and the rest of the children in her ballet company went down close to the stage, and met the ballerinas.  She smiled in delight as several members of the cast, including the Nutcracker himself, walked out right in front of her.  They asked if anyone had any questions.  Everyone was silent, then Tes raised her little hand.  "I have a Nutcracker!" she said, holding him up for everyone to see.  Everyone laughed, and Tes beamed.  I was dying from happiness.  When it was time for the dancers to go, several of them stayed to talk to the children.  I asked the Nutcracker if he would mind taking a picture with Tessie, and he very sweetly agreed.  She told him that she was a ballerina too, and he said that maybe she could be in The Nutcracker one day.  She smiled up at him, her face full of wonder, and said she wanted to be Clara.  In case you don't know, Clara is the little girl who is given the Nutcracker, and goes on a magical adventure with him.  He smiled at Tes and said he thought she would make a wonderful Clara. 

I am so glad that this was my first time seeing The Nutcracker live.  I can't imagine any way it ever could have been more magical, or meant more.  Watching it myself was amazing enough, but watching it through Tessie's eyes was absolutely beautiful.