It is a well-loved, familiar tale: a young girl named Clara celebrates Christmas with her family and friends and receives a Nutcracker doll from her mysterious uncle. After the festivities, she falls asleep and wakes in the magical and scary land of sugarplum fairies and floating angels, where reality is blurred with dreams.
Since The Nutcracker was first performed a week before Christmas in 1892, it has become a holiday tradition for families to attend. Even though we may know the tale by heart, we can’t help but come back for more each year.
Pamela Merkel, the founder and director of Alabama Dance Academy in Hoover, trained at the Royal Ballet Centre and School of American Ballet as well as various other studios. She tells us why we should attend Alabama Dance Academy’s version of The Nutcracker this year for their 30th annual performance.
“We have a couple of seniors performing for the last time that have been in the show since they were eligible at five years old,” said Merkel. “One of them trained at the Royal Ballet School in London and has won many awards and scholarships for her talent. She is definitely one to watch this year.”
Merkel, a highly accomplished dance teacher, founded Alabama Dance Academy in 1995. Her dancers have performed across the world and even at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Australia.
“I think that’s what is remarkable and unique about our Nutcracker,” said Merkel. “You are watching the stars of tomorrow.”
Merkel herself was in The Nutcracker starting at seven years old until she retired from dancing professionally. To her, the performance is the holiday season and family-friendly fun. In fact, she cannot imagine a holiday season without it.
“People come year after year for the tradition,” said Merkel. “The Nutcracker is Christmas to me and to many of us, even those who have no affiliation with the studio. It’s just the perfect family-friendly activity.”
The Nutcracker will feature dancers ranging from ages 5-18. These dancers and their teachers train tirelessly to guarantee an enjoyable performance for all.
Alabama Dance Academy’s The Nutcracker will be held at Oak Mountain High School Performing Arts Center on December 21 and 22. There will be four performances, which anyone can attend at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on December 21 and 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on December 22.
Tickets can be purchased at alabamadanceacademy.com when they become available.