Cochranite Shelby Morisseau will be dancing in the Calgary production of The Nutcracker this upcoming winter.
Morisseau has been enrolled in dance classes ever since she was a child.
“My dance teacher was a family friend,” Morisseau said, explaining her inspiration.
“She used to come over all the time and we would go upstairs and start dancing – so when I was old enough she signed me up for dance.”
Eurhythmics owner and Shelby’s dance instructor Jodi Aasen said Morisseau is the type of dancer who is always working hard to better herself.
“Ever since she first came to my studio over 10 years ago, myself and other instructors could see that she was not only talented but gifted in the art of dance,” Aasen, said.
“Anything that she sets her mind to, when it comes to dance, she will accomplish.”
The 16 year old said this is the first year she has auditioned to dance in plays. After hearing about an opening on Facebook for The Nutcracker at the Jeunesse Classique Ballet Society in Calgary, Morisseau said she made the decision to audition after encouragement from another dancer.
“My mom’s best friend from high school has a daughter that dances like me; she goes to Pittsburgh Ballet (Theatre) school and she suggested that I try out – I really look up to her, so when she told me that she thought I could do it, I had to,” Morisseau said.
After receiving an email less than a week later offering her a part in the play, Morisseau said she and her mom, Sandy, were really excited.
“I am so proud,” Sandy said. “Over the moon! All the years of sewing point shoes pays off for stuff like this.”
Shelby said she is still waiting to find out what her character will be, but practice has already started for the November and December production. Three hours will be spent in ballet shoes every Saturday, as Shelby gets ready for her first play.
“I’m almost overwhelmed with it all,” she said with a laugh.
Aasen said Shelby getting accepted is just a testament to the dancer’s hard work.
“We are so thrilled and proud that she was chosen to be part of such a well known production. Dance is a tough art to obtain roles and be successful in, as there are so many talented dancers out there,” Aasen said.
“It makes us proud that she was chosen out of so many that auditioned. This proves that she worked hard through all her years of training to pursue her aspirations and dreams.”
Dancing since she was three years old, Shelby said she is trained in every form of dance but prefers ballet.
“Ballet is most calming to me and it is a lot more easy to express how I feel, a lot more laid back,” Morisseau said. “[I] consider this my second home – I’ve grown up with all the girls that I dance with. Just being in class with them is where I’m happiest.”
Winning several awards over the years, her dedication shines through with several Most Outstanding, Most Promising, and also highest scoring solo for Eurhythmics Dance Studio last year.
Now Shelby said she would be performing in Lethbridge in November and at the University of Calgary theatre in December.
What is next for the talented dancer?
Shelby will be graduating high school next year and aspires to travel to New York to look at ballet schools.
“We are so thrilled that she wants to pursue her dream as a dancer and a performer after she graduates,” Aasen said.
“Whatever journey she decides to pursue we know that we have trained her to succeed and we wish her all the best in the future as the beautiful dancer she has become – we are so proud.”
“It’s still not real to me,” Shelby said.
Advice she wants to give to aspiring dancers: “Never compare yourself to others. Always be confident in who you are as a dancer. And to dance like nobody is watching.”
