Oak Bay high student Marissa Monette will dance in this year's Alberta Ballet production of the The Nutcracker, as she has for the previous five years.
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ShareOak Bay student keen to dance in refreshed Nutcracker - Seasonal ballet gets $1.5 million refit
Published: November 26, 2008 1:00 PMUpdated: November 26, 2008 2:00 PM
News staff
Marissa Monette has danced in the Alberta Ballet's production of The Nutcracker in Victoria for six years. Last year might have been her last, but the 15-year-old Saanich resident decided she would perform again this season.
"It will definitely be more exciting," she said. The company has spent $1.5 million on new costumes and sets. In addition, choreographer Edmund Stripe has revised the story line to set The Nutcracker in 1890s Imperial Russia, the same time as its original premiere.
Monette spends an hour and a half each Saturday rehearsing with other cast members.
"The little ones who play the mice can only rehearse for one hour," she explains. She will dance as a boy at Clara's Christmas party in Act One and then again, later in the performance, as a soldier.
The most challenging aspect to performing in The Nutcracker is juggling all her other interests, which includes jazz dance. And although Monette said she'd love to dance professionally as an adult, once she's graduated from Oak Bay High she may continue on with whatever subject currently holds her interest, like psychology, history and math.
Alberta Ballet's production of The Nutcracker will include the Victoria Symphony. It runs Nov. 28 and 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the Royal Theatre. There will also be two matinee performances on Nov. 29 and 30. Tickets are $43-$76 at McPherson Box Office, with a $15 discount for children under 12.
vmoreau@saanichnews.com
