Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker comes to Fairfield, includes local dancers in 'once in a lifetime' experience

When the Moscow Ballet called Vanessa Terrell, owner of the Pointe School of Dance in Cedar Rapids, asking if her school would host audtions for their Nutcracker ballet coming to Fairfield on Dec. 2, Terrell said her 'jaw just about hit the floor.'

'When the Moscow Ballet asks, the answer is yes,' she said.

'The Moscow Ballet nutcracker is world famous and there's just nothing quite like it,' she added. 'It's an honor to have them here.'

The Moscow Ballet will tour 115 cities across the United States and Canada this holiday season to perform the Great Russian Nutcracker, a production featuring the 'onion dome' Moscow skyline, life sized matrushka (nesting dolls), a russian troika sleigh and a 'Dove of Peace' with a 20 foot wing.

Since 1994, the Moscow Ballet has invited local dancers from each of the touring cities to participate in performances as part of their 'Dance with Us' program.

This year, Anna Radik, Moscow Ballet's central tour audition director and professional dancer, came to the Pointe school in September to audition local dancers aged 7 to 17 with at least one year of ballet experience for roles including party children, mice, snowflakes, angels, snow maidens and more.

All 30 students from Cedar Rapids and surrounding areas who auditioned were selected to participate in the December performance at the Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts in Fairfield.

'We have a thriving dance community and I really think we will have a great showing in this performance,' Terrell said.

Since auditions, dancers have been tirelessly rehearsing every weekend at the Pointe's studio to prepare for the big show, in which they'll dance alongside nearly 40 professional dancers from Russia.

'It's a great experience for students to be involved in a professional production,' Terrell said. 'For dance students to watch, observe and be part of a professional performance is rare around here.'

Although most young dancers won't go on to be professionals — the career is extremely competitive — Terrell said the opportunity goes beyond just dancing.

'We're big believers in a dance education beyond dancing,' she said. 'For a student to watch a professional dancer when they're on and at their best for a performance will be amazing. It's kind of a mentorship without words.'

Radik, who's been dancing professionally for nearly 30 years, said dancing with professionals teaches students how to 'behave in front of thousands of people.'

'Professional dancers have the best work ethic,' Terrell added. 'They have long hours and trained their whole lives to get where they are. For our students who aspire to do something like that, getting that exerpience is invaluable.'

Even just experiencing the response from an audience after a performance can be a great self-esteem booster, Radik said.

'It's really exciting when you get this energy from the audience,' she said. 'The kids get to see they did something very well and I think it's very good for them. ... This could be once in their life that they have this chance.'