Placer Theater Ballet offers "The Nutcracker"

Production features 85 cast members of all agesBy Erin Gallup-Main, Journal Staff WriterAlmost 600 people watched what Director Pat Colgate called the best show of ?The Nutcracker? in the five years Placer Theater Ballet has put on the Auburn show.To Sugar Plum Fairy Tessa Earl of Auburn, Tchaikovsky?s ?The Nutcracker? is the best kind of Christmas story because it includes numerous varieties of dance. ?It?s the story of a little girl?s dream on Christmas Eve,? Earl, assistant director of the production, said Sunday. ?It?s everything a little girl would want. She goes to a beautiful palace and meets a princess and her doll comes to life. She gets to watch dancers from all around the world entertain for her and she gets a crown.?Colgate said 85 cast members age 3 to more than 40 years old performed gymnastics, modern dance and traditional ballet during the Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday performances. She said even though 90 percent of the seats were filled during the four shows, ticket sales never quite meet the cost of the $1,800 performance.After three months of practices, sewing and designing, Colgate said the performance came together beautifully for the finale Sunday.Freshman Melissa Sanderson led the story as Clara at her school, Placer High. She danced with others such as Snow Queen Jessie Lacayo, French doll and Dew Drop Anne Marie, both of Auburn and Earl?s Conservatory of Dance in Rocklin.?It?s an encouraging group, which is why I like them,? said Lacayo, whose dad worked behind the scenes to help put it together. ?It?s a family atmosphere.?She said although one scene required her to keep excellent balance so she could complete four turns on one foot, she received a lot of coaching and positive reinforcement that helped her gain the confidence to learn the dance.Rocklin resident Jeni Vanhorn, 13, said she appreciated the positive attitude of the crew as well, since she only had a week to learn what everyone else had three months to perfect. Vanhorn played the Marionette, replacing Amanda Grider, who broke her ankle a week before the performances began.Vanhorn said it was a challenge to learn the puppet part so quickly.?It?s a little hard,? she said. ?I practiced for a week to get everything down. I think I did pretty good.?Colgate said Vanhorn and the rest of the crew did excellent Sunday.?It was the best of all four performances. It always happens that way,? Colgate said. ?They?re all telling me what they want to be next year.?She said auditions for the yet undecided spring show will be in February. For more information on Placer Theater Ballet productions, visit placertheaterballet.org.The Auburn Journal?s Erin Gallup-Main can be reached at ering@goldcountrymedia.com.