Fourteen-year-old Ella Gall will be dancing in Alberta Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker that will take place Dec. 15 to 17 as well as Dec. 21 to 24 at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.
Gall, who started dancing when she was 18 months old, says she took up performing for a number of reasons.
“I started dancing when I was younger because my sister was doing it and because I loved music,” Gall said.
“My parents also thought it was a good idea and a natural fit for me because I love to perform.”
Gall dances in the professional division with Alberta Ballet and took part in the production a year prior.
“I was invited to audition for The Nutcracker and based on that audition I got a role in the performance as a soldier in last year’s production as well as this year,” Gall said.
“Last year was my first year in it. It was really cool to be able to work with all the choreographers and professional dancers because when we do the dress rehearsals you get to be backstage with the company dancers, and I thought it was really cool to see all the behind the scenes stuff that went into the production,”
“I’m really excited for this year as well. Just to be able to get on stage and perform, knowing that you’re dancing professionally with a ballet company … you don’t get nervous, you’re just excited to get on stage, do your role and have fun… I’m way more comfortable this year than I was at this time last year.”
The Nutcracker, a classic Christmas story, is a classical ballet in two acts centered on a family's Christmas Eve celebration. It is based on E.T.A. Hoffmann's 1816 fairytale The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.
It tells the story of a little girl named Clara, who receives a nutcracker doll from her godfather. Once the Christmas Eve party is over, Clara goes to check on her nutcracker to see if he is resting quietly. All of a sudden, mice start running about the room, the dolls, the tin soldiers and all the other playthings come to life to fight the mice and the Mouse King. The Nutcracker becomes a human prince, and Clara and the Nutcracker set off through the snowy woods in search of the magical Land of Sweets ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Along with the Calgary show, Alberta Ballet will also have a major performance in Edmonton on Dec. 7 through until Dec. 10.
Tickets prices range anywhere from $115.00 to $35.00 depending on the area. They are available through www.albertaballet.com.
