Youngsters to dance in holiday show
By: Lacey Korevec
On stage, they may look like bonbons, fairies, snowballs or rats. But those are just costumes.
Off stage, they’re local dance students from Cranbury, Monroe and other local townships, studying at the Princeton Ballet School and performing this season in American Repertory Ballet’s "The Nutcracker."
Cranbury residents Melissa Amico, Morgan Caglianone, Nye Caple, Colleen Lim and sisters Imogen, Morgan and Madeline Lea, and Monroe residents Erica Lee, Kylie Schoenig, Jillian Utter and sisters Amanda, Meagan and Melissa Salvadore are getting a taste of what life is like for professional performers by dancing parts in the classic ballet.
The show is running throughout December at the Patriots Theater at the War Memorial in Trenton and the State Theatre in New Brunswick.
American Repertory Ballet’s "Nutcracker," which premiered in 1964, is the third longest-running production of the famous holiday ballet in the country. Directed by Company Artistic Director Graham Lustig, the ballet features costumes by Emmy Award-winner Zack Brown.
Last year, Madeline, a seventh-grader, played a snowball and said she knew after opening night that she wanted to audition again this year.
"It was a little scary the first one, but after that it was easy," she said. "I thought it was really cool because you got to perform and I really enjoyed it because I like dancing."
Madeline, who’s been dancing at the Princeton Ballet School in Cranbury since she was 4, is performing this year as a Polly Schnel clown-like dancers who enter with Mother Ginger.
Though she loves her part, she hopes to land an even better role next year.
"I want to be a bonbon," she said. "They dance a lot and they have really cool costumes. It looks like fun."
Meagan, 15, is performing in "The Nutcracker" for her third season, and has landed the part of Marie. She said playing such an important role has been a great experience.
"Last year I was a Polly Schnel in the second act," she said. "So, it’s like a big jump from last year to this year."
Meagan, who dreams of one day becoming a professional dancer, said she enjoys working alongside the American Repertory Ballet company members.
"It’s a lot of fun because they’re really nice and everything," she said. "They’ve been really good."
Eight-year-old Kylie, who said she’s been dancing for seven years, is performing as a Sugar Plum Fairy Attendant.
She said she’s enjoying being in "The Nutcracker" because she has made a lot of friends and hopes to audition again next year.
"I want to be a snowball," she said. "I like the costume. It looks cool."
Colleen, a sixth-grader, is performing in the ballet for the first time this season, dancing as a Sugarplum Fairy Attendant.
She said she loves the rush she gets from performing in front of so many viewers and said everyone should see the show.
"It’s very special because there are very pretty costumes and it’s a lot different from other ballets," she said. "They let kids join in and that’s a good part because most ballets only have adults."
"American Repertory Ballet’s The Nutcracker" opened Nov. 18 at McCarter Theatre in Princeton. Viewers can still catch it Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. at the Patriots Theater at the War Memorial in Trenton and Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Dec. 17 at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the State Theatre in New Brunswick.
For more information on ticket prices, contact the Patriots Theater Box office at (609) 984-8400 and the State Theatre at (732) 246-7469.

