ShannonNutcracker_12-13-13_MAINLike many other children, the Nutcracker was my first experience with ballet. I was only 5-years old. I was so impressed by the gorgeous costumes, beautiful dancing and thrilling music that it inspired me to start dancing. Now I am a ballerina in the Nutcracker and able to pass on that inspiration to young girls and boys every year.

The holiday season for a professional ballerina usually means Nutcracker season. It is a very busy time for the dancers with many shows packed in a short time span of only a couple weeks. I have performed the ballet hundreds of times during the course of my career. Last year I danced in 30 performances in two weeks (not including rehearsals). I expect that it will be like that this year too! It is very important to get as much rest as possible and to refresh the body in between the shows.

One may think that it would be difficult to find new inspiration to perform a ballet that I’ve danced so many times, however, this is not necessarily the case. I always remember that there is a child in the audience who is seeing a ballet for the very first time, and I could be the inspiration to get that little girl or boy to start dancing and enjoy this beautiful form of art. Happy Holidays!