Santa Rosa high school 'Nutcracker' dancer realizes a dream

Editor’s note: Catherine Liang, 16, is a Santa Rosa resident and a junior at Maria Carrillo High School. She has been dancing for 11 years at the Santa Rosa Dance Theater/Santa Rosa Youth Ballet Company. This is her first-person account of training for and performing in “The Nutcracker.” The troupe performs “The Nutcracker” at Spreckels Preforming Arts Center in Rohnert Park on Dec. 18, 19 and 20.

The soft twinkling of candlelight fills the room. A tree laden with popcorn garlands, candy canes and the figure of a small angel doll is the center of attention. Around it, adults clink champagne glasses and children squeal with delight at the sight of brightly wrapped presents and the shiny new toys lying inside. The air is filled with the unmistakable air of Christmas.

A man in a large cape enters and presents gifts to all of the guests. He has a special gift - a wooden nutcracker, for one special girl, Clara. This present launches a magical journey filled with dancing snowflakes, exotic desserts and even a brave prince. It is an enchanting tale that captures audiences’ hearts performance after performance, year after year.

As a ballerina for the past 11 years at the Santa Rosa Dance Theater, I along with my fellow dancers have the privilege of telling the story of “The Nutcracker” during each holiday season. For us dancers, this time is filled with countless hours of practice and preparation before each performance.

Each holiday season is filled with the familiar smell of old pointe shoes, the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and rehearsals for core parts and major roles. As a toddler, I dreamed of donning the ivory, crystal-lined tutu of the Snow Queen or swaying in time to the hypnotic rhythm of the Arabian duet.

This year, I have a chance to make this dream a reality. I also have discovered the immense amount of hard work it takes to do those roles justice. After all, ballet is far more than the costumes, however beautifully handcrafted they might be. Saturday mornings become marathons across the floor, and Friday nights are filled with attempts at 32 fouettè rond de jambe en tourants.

Like any competitive sport, ballet requires a great amount of physical strength and stamina. As much as I wish I’d been born with the might of Hercules and the endurance of a triathlete, unfortunately, this was not the case. Every day for at least two hours, I attend class to strengthen my leg muscles and extend body lines necessary to build the endurance, strength and elegant positions needed in this art. At all times, I must remind myself of a million little nuances that are key to having good ballet body posture. My feet must be turned out at 180 degrees, while my calves and quads are engaged but never locked. My hands should move gently and silkily but firmly, my neck stretched but never craned. And above all, I must maintain and demonstrate ever-improved body presence, from the tips of my toes to the gaze of my eyes.

Despite being sore and exhausted after each class, I also feel incredibly accomplished. Just a few years ago, completing even a shaky, messy single turn made me so joyful. Now, under the guidance of four professionally trained teachers from respected ballet companies such as the San Francisco, St. Petersburg, Vagonova and Mariinsky Ballet, I am able to come down lightly and gracefully from a turned-out triple, bringing me that same sense of pride and triumph.

Ballet also has taught me much more than the correct form of body needed in dance. My roles this year, the Snow Queen, Snowflake and Flowers, have shown me the importance of teamwork. From keeping time and straight lines to smiling and motivating one another with our energy, the love for dance is what makes this art beautiful as a dancer.

In the Arabian dance, the requisite partner work is a test of faith and trust between my partner and I when I am being lifted into the air. It is a combination of contemporary and classical ballet training. Many times, I am off my center of balance and must trust that my partner will catch me at the last minute. It is both a frightening and exciting sensation to allow myself to freely move and express, knowing that I am safe in my partner’s hands.

Nothing beats a captivated audience’s standing ovation. It is visible and audible proof that all that hard work and sacrifice has paid off. There is nothing quite like walking onto the stage in a beautiful costume, bubbles that catch the light falling in the backdrop, giving the illusion of snow, after pouring my heart out into that performance. Joining hands with my fellow dancers and everyone I’ve shared this experience with, I can’t help but smile as we take the final bow. I hear the rumbling of the applause from the audience we were able captivate and tell a dreamlike holiday story to, through the beauty of dance.