Local dancers fill out cast for Nutcracker ballet

It’s Saturday afternoon and Esquimalt United Church is being overrun with rats and soldiers. But they’re giggling.

“Rats, no smiling!” Gina Sinclair-Davis says to the dozen or so ballet dancers who are rehearsing the fight scene for Alberta Ballet’s upcoming run of The Nutcracker.

“And soldiers, what will you say to the rats as you march forward?” Sinclair-Davis asks another group of dancers at the opposite end of the hall. She marches a quick step in front of them. “You are a rat, I will barbecue you up!”

This is the 19th year Sinclair-Davis has put a youthful contingent through its paces for the classic Christmas ballet that tells the story of toys brought to life. Although Alberta Ballet lands in town with its principal dancers, more than 60 local children, aged 8 to 16, will perform as mice, soldiers, rats, party children and palace pages in five performances this weekend at the Royal Theatre.

The young troupe, whose members come from as far as Duncan, Sooke, Sidney and Oak Bay, has just eight weeks to memorize the choreography that Alberta Ballet has drafted and sent on a DVD to Sinclair-Davis.

“The biggest challenge is taking students that are trained at different studios and making them look like one cohesive group,” she says.

Her job is known as the repetiteur. “It’s really one-third rehearsing and two-thirds logistics.”

Keeping track of the troupe backstage in the Royal, a rather small area, can also present a challenge.

“They have to arrive and leave at certain times, because you’ve got the whole ballet company, plus the symphony and there just isn’t room for everyone backstage.”

Occasionally there are mishaps, such as the time when the nutcracker doll’s head popped off on cue, but then rolled off the stage into the orchestra pit. A musician picked it up and tossed it to the conductor, who in turn tossed it back on stage.

“It seems funny now, but it was mortifying at the time,” Sinclair-Davis says.

These days Sinclair-Davis, who ran her own dance academy in Victoria for 20-some years, teaches dance full time, choreographs and adjudicates dance exams. And she hasn’t yet tired of readying dancers for the Christmas classic.

Younger dancers quickly learn the rules of dancing with a professional company, she says.

“People are wearing masks and leaping and jumping. It’s critical that they all know exactly where to be, to prevent running into anyone and having an accident.”

Sinclair-Davis imparts her wisdom with humour and gentle firmness. “You get more from a student if they’re happy and they feel like they’re participating than by yelling.”

She still takes pride in watching the dancers discover their potential. “For the older girls, I see them watching the ballet company … some of them look at me and say ‘That’s what I want to do, Miss Sinclair.’ I say go for it.”

Some have gone on to professional dance careers.

The best thing about teaching the troupe? “It’s Nutcracker – it’s wonderful.”

vmoreau@saanichnews.com

What's on

• What: Alberta Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker with the Victoria Symphony

• Where: The Royal Theatre

• When: Friday, Nov. 27 to Sunday, Nov. 29

• Tickets: $58 to $98 for adults, $15 off for children under 12, available at the Royal and McPherson box offices, by calling 250-386-6121 or at www.dancevictoria.com.