PBT Artists Childhood Nutcracker Memories
“The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.”
For some children, those sugar-plums danced not only in their heads but also alongside them onstage. The Nutcracker is the first ballet in which most ballet dancers perform and many dancers hold treasured childhood memories of their first Nutcracker. We asked our company artists to share some of those memories:
Ariana Chernyshev – PBT Apprentice
What role (s) did you play in your first Nutcracker performance?
“My first experience with The Nutcracker was in 2008, and it was absolutely unforgettable! I was the Little Party Girl, which was an honor since only two girls from the youngest age division are selected for this role.”
What school did you dance with at the time?
Currently a company apprentice, Ariana was trained from Pre-Ballet all the way through the Graduate program at PBT School.
What memories do you have of being onstage?
“I was fully enraptured by the sets, costumes, lights and the older dancers having their final moments to practice before the show. After my first entrance, my nerves transformed into pure elation and that first show of The Nutcracker became the memory that I hold in my heart as the moment I knew I would do anything to become a ballerina.
What about it made you want to be a professional dancer?
“As a young dancer performing child’s roles in The Nutcracker, I always wanted to be a Snowflake. I thought that the older dancers were so beautiful, graceful and powerful, especially with their gorgeous crowns and fluttery tutus.”
Caitlyn Mendicino – PBT Corps de Ballet
What role (s) did you play in your first Nutcracker performance?
“My first performance of The Nutcracker was actually Terrence S Orr’s version (PBT’s current version); I was a little soldier. I wore the blue and white soldier costumes that we still use in PBT’s Nutcracker. Back then however we also had white masks we wore as well.”
What school did you dance with at the time?
What memories do you have of being onstage?
“I remember running through the castle on stage and thinking how intense the whole battle scene was and how proud I was to salute Marie.”
What was your favorite part of being in the performance?
“Definitely being on stage with my dance idol at the time, Ying Li.”
What about it made you want to be a professional dancer?
“I loved being on stage and being immersed in the story. When you’re so small you feel like you’re actually transported to a toy battlefield.”
Cecilia Hernandez – PBT Apprentice
What role (s) did you play in your first Nutcracker performance?
“In my first Nutcracker, I was 4 years old and I played a mouse in Act 1 and an angel in Act 2. As a mouse I wore a grey loose onesie with a hood that had the cutest mouse ears attached. And pictured is my Angel costume.”
What school did you dance with at the time?
“I danced with my home school, Nunnbetter Dance Theatre.”
What memories do you have of being onstage?
“I can only remember kneeling on the side of the stage as an angel, watching the Sugar Plum Fairy dance, and being in awe.”
What was your favorite part of being in the performance?
“My favorite part of the performance was looking up at the older girls doing so many different roles. I don’t have many vivid memories from that very first Nutcracker performance but I can absolutely picture being backstage and watching the Sugar Plum Fairy that year preparing, talking to stagehands, and smiling. I think I was too young to know that’s exactly what I wanted to do with my life, but it makes sense that’s the only vivid memory I have.”
David O’Matz – PBT Corps de Ballet
What role (s) did you play in your first Nutcracker performance?
“I played Fritz in Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh‘s production.”
What memories do you have of being onstage?
“I wanted to keep the fact that I was in the production a surprise, so my whole family attended the performance in the audience and saw me onstage once the curtain rose.”
What was your favorite part of being in the performance?
“It was fun to run around onstage, act, dance, and befriend other dancers backstage and throughout the rehearsal process. This is when I met Tommie O’Hanlon (PBT principal artist) for the first time!”
What about it made you want to be a professional dancer?
“I found joy within both rehearsing and performing The Nutcracker. Every year I have experienced a new familiarity of performing the same ballet year after year, and joy to experience new roles and learn new parts. This all started with my first Nutcracker.”
Diana Yohe – PBT Soloist
What role (s) did you play in your first Nutcracker performance?
“My very first Nutcracker was in 2004 with Pennsylvania Ballet (now known as Philadelphia Ballet) when they toured to Cleveland. It was George Balanchine’s version and I was a child in the party scene.”
What memories do you have of being onstage?
“I remember telling my parents every time about being lifted across the stage to reach for the Christmas tree by one of the company men.”
What about it made you want to be a professional dancer?
“That Nutcracker definitely inspired my passion for ballet and my career. I always try to remember how those kind company dancers changed the direction of my life when I do The Nutcracker each year with the kids! It really is all about them, and I think for the kid in all of us as well.”
JoAnna Schmidt – PBT Soloist
What role (s) did you play in your first Nutcracker performance?
“My first performance in The Nutcracker was with Central Florida Ballet, when I was seven years old. I got to be a party girl and one of Mother Ginger’s bon bons! I hadn’t learned how to do a cartwheel yet, and that was part of the choreography for the bon bons. I remember my mom demonstrating one for me in our living room!”
What school did you dance at at the time?
What memories do you have of being onstage?
“This photo is from a couple years later. One of my favorite dancers and greatest mentors, Heather Fryxell, let me wear one of her tutus to promote the performances at a hotel, across the street from the theater.”
What about it made you want to be a professional dancer?
“Even though I was simply walking around, taking photos, just getting to Look like the Sugar Plum Fairy was so magical to me. Now, with PBT, I get to fully step into that role, dancing as the Sugar Plum Fairy in our production! It is my inner child’s dream come true!!!”
Join us this year to make your own memories of The Nutcracker and watch these little dancers – now all grown up -in PBT’s The Nutcracker this December! Performances will run December 8-28 at the Benedum Center. Find tickets here!