As young local dancers leap and turn across the stage at the Perot Theatre, the audience finds themselves with a full heart and nostalgia towards the annual performance they’re watching.
The first weekend of December continues to be Texarkana’s way of ringing in the season, no matter when you think the Christmas season begins
“The nutcracker definitely helps me get in the Christmas spirit,” junior Natalie Robinson said. “At the end of the show, snow is dumped on stage which gives me that Christmas feeling.”
Due to its influence on the beginning of the holiday season, Nutcracker continues to be a special show, mainly because of the many dancers that enjoy participating in the production as well as the special, cherished memories they’ve acquired through the years. The Nutcracker serves as a core memory for dancers of all ages.
“I grew up dancing, that’s what I love doing,” sophomore Camylle Glass said. “It’s always been such a fun thing to do every Christmas with my friends.”
The Nutcracker, as opposed to other local dance recitals, gives the dancers an opportunity to interact with fellow dancers from all over the city. If it weren’t for their participation in the production, they most likely would not know the people that slowly become lifelong friends.
“Nutcracker is sometimes the only time I get to see my friends at other studios,” junior Laila Toubia said. “It’s really special to get to spend time with all of them.”
For some dancers, they know that the sport is their calling and feel an indescribable sense of joy, passion and emotion through every move they make.
“Dancing makes me the happiest,” Glass said. “I love doing it alongside my best friends.”
It’s safe to say that the Nutcracker continues to be a very special production for the dancers, the audience and everyone that finds themself with an opportunity to watch. Dancers across Texarkana find themselves grateful for the experience of participating in the show, and look forward to it every year.
“I don’t know how to explain the feeling of dancing,” Glass said. “It’s just amazing.”
