For many families, seeing the Nutcracker is a holiday tradition.

For others, it is just a show to sit through.

As a dancer, the Nutcracker is the one constant in a busy ballet season.

Since I was nine years old, I have been a member of Alexandra Ballet, a non-for-profit performing arts company. Every year we perform the Nutcracker so I have danced it countless times. People often ask if I get bored with dancing in the same ballet over and over. My answer is always no because every year and every part is different.

I have performed about eleven different roles as a dancer in the Nutcracker, many of them more than once. This year, I was cast as Snow Queen in Act 1. I performed this role last year but I had a Snow King to dance with. I’m on my own this year since my King graduated high school, thus leaving me to reign over the Kingdom of Snow on my own.

In addition to Snow Queen, I am also a Reed Flute in Act 2. I was not originally cast in this role; I am filling in for an injured friend. This is my third year as a Reed Flute.  Being able to jump into roles at the last minute is an essential skill as a dancer and dancing Flute at the last minute always reminds me of that.

This year, we performed an extra show at a new venue: The Rickman Auditorium at Fox High School on Sunday, December 1. All of the proceeds from the performance went to the Arnold Food Pantry as well as other area charities. It was a full day; I was at the theatre from 9:15-3:30. Here’s an inside look at a day in a dancer’s life:

6:50-Time to wake up and put on my stage makeup. I always allow extra time for applying stage makeup because it is much more elaborate than regular makeup. A dancer’s stage makeup includes darker eyebrows, extended lines of eyeliner, fake eyelashes, heavy blush, foundation and lipstick.

7:30- Started on hair. Almost every role requires a different hairstyle. For Snow Queen and Flutes, I need my hair in a medium-high bun. A dancer’s bun has to be slicked back and wisp-free so that it doesn’t look like there is a halo of frizz onstage. This also makes it easier to pin in headpieces.

7:45- Ate breakfast. The morning of the performance I had oatmeal and Greek yogurt. I can’t perform on an empty stomach!

8:00- Got dressed. Tights and a leotard first, followed by a nice dress for the theatre. We always present ourselves in a professional manner, which means no jeans, shorts or anything inappropriate.

8:10- Last minute packing, including lunch and water. For lunch I packed a turkey wrap (with Thanksgiving turkey of course), an apple, some nuts and water. Since lunch was shortly before the performance, I packed lightly to avoid a stomachache onstage.

8:15- Left for the theatre. Although it was 45 minutes away, I  left time for unexpected traffic. Plus, I’d never been to this theatre before and I wasn’t entirely sure of the route. Luckily, my dad did the driving!

9:05- After I arrived, I dropped my bags off in the dressing room (a tiny, bright room that is crammed with about 20 girls) and put on my dance warm-ups. These keep me warm in the theatre (theatres are often drafty and cold). Next, I went out to the stage to for warm-up, which is a quick ballet class to get our muscles ready.

9:30- Warm-up began, led by my teacher Ms. Norma. We started class in the audience, holding onto the edge of the stage and the chairs for the beginning exercises (this is called barre). For center combinations, the older dancers and I went onto the stage while the younger dancers stayed below.

10:20- Warm-up went slightly over schedule. I stayed onstage with the other snowflakes to “block” the Snow Scene. Blocking is when we learn to space ourselves and accommodate to the new stage space. Various spots on the stage (such as center) are marked by a tape X. Almost every stage is different, so blocking is very important to the success of the performance.

10:35- Block Act 2 (this is when I am a Reed Flute)

10:50- Run Act 2

11:30- Get ready for Act 1. Although most dancers are not in costume since it is just a rehearsal, I was instructed to wear my costume so that the lighting technicians could adjust the lights as needed to accommodate my silver Snow Queen tutu.

11:45- Run Act 1.

12:30- The ballet directors came around with notes and corrections from the rehearsal.  For me, my Snow Queen rehearsal was rough. My shoes kept slipping on the stage and my turns were sloppy. However, there is a saying in the performing business: The worse the dress rehearsal, the better the performance.

12:45- Took off my costume and ate lunch

1:00- After lunch, I put my headpiece in. I have to wear a crown for my snow costume, which is sometimes hard to pin in. My friend Elizabeth (who is also the prop manager backstage) helped me pin it on top of my head with bobby pins.

1:15- Next, I put my point shoes on. In order to keep the ribbons in my shoes (which are tucked in) from coming out onstage, I also sew my ribbons together so that there is no chance of them coming undone. Having loose ribbons onstage is considered unprofessional.

1:30- Time to touch up my makeup and put on my Snow Queen necklace.

1:40- Last, I put my tutu on! I was finally ready. I left the dressing room to warm-up my feet and stretch.

1:50- Before shows, the whole cast always joins hands in a circle while our director wishes us luck. It’s a nice moment for us all to unite as a cast before going onstage.

2:00- Went backstage…This is always when I start getting nervous!

2:10- The show began after a local choir sang and cleared the stage.

My nerves get worse right before I go on, but once the stage lights hit me, I know it’s time to forget them and just perform.

3:30- The show is over! As I reflect on my performance, I felt that it went way better than rehearsal. Like many dancers, I am always sharply critical of all my performances, and as a result, I’m never truly happy with the end result (this drives my mom nuts!). However, when I went out for bows, I found my parents in the center of the audience. I remembered that performing is about entertaining and as a dancer that is my goal; to make others happy by watching a wonderful ballet and story. Seeing their smiles and cheers is what really matters.

Now that you’ve gotten a glimpse backstage, come see the show! The next Nutcracker will be at the Purser Center at the Logan University on December 14th at 7 p.m. and December 15 at 2 p.m.

Don’t know the story of the Nutcracker? There will be a narrator to guide you through the magical tale. You can also take pictures  after the show with principal characters.

Hope to see you there!