The year 2020 really threw several monkey wrenches in our performance plans. Coming out of lockdown and without a venue for our spring recital we promised our dancers a fall performance. We were devastated when our beloved Great Russian Nutcracker was forced to cancel, followed by the Spokane Symphony canceling the State Street Nutcracker. Ballet Arts Academy was determined to offer a performance opportunity to our dancers, so we dove head first into putting on our very own Nutcracker. Plans were in place to have one group of dancers in our large studio with only two parents per dancer watching. We rented a backdrop, stage lighting, designed props, and set about designing and sewing costumes. One iconic piece to this COVID Nutcracker were coordinating masks for every dancer. Ballet Arts Academy was so close to our December performance date when Washington State shut down gyms.

On February 11th and 13th we were able to bring our dancers into our studio to perform their pieces. Parents watched their children perform through Zoom in their cars. It was such a memorable experience and so many blessings came from this performance. In past years when our dancers audition for The Great Russian Nutcracker or The Spokane Symphony Nutcracker, the parts were limited. It was such a treat for our older dancers to dance all the variations such as: Chinese, Spanish, French, Arabian, Cavalier, Snow Queen and Sugar Plum Fairy. We loved watching our advanced dancers show their skills in these special roles.

We did not have the traditional huge Mother Ginger skirt with a dancer on stilts. However, we reimagined Mother Ginger with ribbons, magnets and a May pole dance that was simply lovely. The polichinelle costumes were modeled after NYCB costumes and were sewn by two grandmothers, these costumes were beyond adorable.

Please enjoy looking through these photos taken by Scott Martinez Photography of our beloved COVID Nutcracker.