Cold and Sunny

It's a bright, frosty day today. Perfect for some hot chocolate from Spain! It's also The Dance Studio's Nutcracker dress rehearsal at the Mt.Baker Theatre. All together, it's fun, fun, fun!

Nutcracker Week

The Nutcracker! One of the best traditions of the holiday season! While it can be fun to go to Seattle and see the professionals, there is nothing quite so happy as our very own local production (Wendy Setter's The Dance Studio). Adorable children, talented dancers and actors, and proud parents. We got it all, and the joy transcends the show. It's a good thing! A very good thing. Hope to see you there: Mt Baker Theatre, Dec 4 & 5th at 7:30 pm. We are ready to put a smile on your face and warm you up for the holiday season. Come and see!

What's next?

Other than gusting winds, what's up? New shoes, that's what! 'Sugarplum fairy' and 'Waltz of the Flowers' are currently on my table. And more 'Mice'. Every Mouse King I've made has sold. They seem to be a favorite. I guess everybody likes eyes, ears and whiskers! I'm also making a Nutcracker shoe. That'll be a fun one.

Nutcracker First Full Run-Thru

Today was the 1st full Nutcracker run-thru. Which means a busy, hectic, crowded, fun few hours. Music stopping and starting, little girls in ballet pink, older girls in variations of tights & t-shirts alongside little boys ready to scoot. It means parents lining the halls and lifting dads. Then suddenly it's over and everybody heads home with nutcracker music in their heads. It's simply "be in the moment, where you are" happiness.

Of course, it also means POINTE Shoes! Today I finished my 'Bon Bon' shoe. I had to think about this one a bit, and finally landed on the idea of wrapped candy (the shoe has wrapped pom-poms!). This is the dance where the children tumble out from under Mother Ginger's skirt and dance about the floor. They are a playful bunch, even a bit mischievious. And when they blow the audience a kiss, the crowd wears a smile. Then Mother Ginger gathers them back up, and they all leave the stage. Bright happy colors

The Palace of the Sugarplum Fairy

At invitation from the fairy, Clara and her prince stayed to rest and watch some of the Sweet's dance for them. (Just imagine, dancing Sweets! Yum!) These dances are lively with lots of jumping and joy: Spanish Hot Chocolate, Arabian Coffee and Chinese Tea. I had tons-o-fun making the Chinese Tea shoe because it has bright & bold colors. The metallic blue paint was a perfect backdrop for the silver fan that I stole from an old piece of jewelry. The chinese character on the inner sole is the sign for 'love' ... a pretty good sign, I'd say!

Excitement!

I'm getting more excited about the coming Nutcracker. Only about 4 weeks to go. Spent time yesterday at The Dance Studio, where Tom and I practiced the 'minuet' with other adults. It is so fun that this production of the Nutcracker is a 'family thing'. There are parents and siblings in it, as well as all the ballerinas... the tiny ones (squeek squeek!) and the big ones (the beautiful solos of the advanced girls). No hired professionals from out of town in this production! Just very lovely and talented dancers who get their chance to be in the spotlight and show their years of dedication and training. It's a very happy production. Last year the smile in my heart stayed for days!

It's a holiday event!

The Nutcracker Ballet!

A christmas eve story set in Nuremberg, Germany, complete with a Christmas Party, Magical Gifts, dancing snowflakes and a journey through the land of the Sugarplum Fairy.

Come be part of the fun at the Mt.Baker Theater in Bellingham on Dec 4th and 5th.

As a unique memento or Christmas gift, buy a custom decorated pointe shoe from one of the dancers. Bring to the performance to be signed by it's character in the Theater lobby after the show.