5 Veteran Ballet Dancers on What It Takes to Survive Nutcracker

March 16, 2020

Few people who are busier during the holidays than corps members of American ballet companies. December is officially Nutcracker season—a company’s chance to earn a huge chunk of their revenue for the year, and a dancer’s chance to go a little, ahem, nuts, waltzing and swallowing fake snow night after night for weeks on end.

But Nutcracker can also be an opportunity like no other, and for some corps members, it’s the highlight of their year. Five dancers told us what helps them get through it all.

Black ballet dancer Kimberly Marie Olivier stands on pointe with the other foot in coupu00e9, swirling a pink ribbon.

Olivier, here in SFB’s Mirliton divertissement, appreciates getting to dance so many roles during
Nutcracker
. Photo by Erik Tomasson, courtesy SFB.

Kimberly Marie Olivier of San Francisco Ballet

Years dancing
Nutcracker
at SFB
:
9

How the production has changed:
“Helgi has changed some of Act II, and now the dancers all sit onstage during the Grand Pas. At first, my thought was, ‘I don’t want to get cold watching someone else dance.’ However, it’s quite epic to be up close cheering on the principals. I mean, imagine Sofiane Sylve looking you in the eye and smiling as she’s about to turn around and jump up on to Tiit Helimits shoulders!”

Go-to
Nutcracker
fuel:
Urban Remedy has all the answers! Also a Vietnamese spot called Dragon Eats has light, fresh fueling choices. The Green Cabbage Salad with tofu or Fresh Spring Rolls are my go-tos. Also, I usually have fruit nearby—an apple, banana or persimmon. When I get home, it usually doesn’t matter so much what I eat, unless I’m having a hard time managing my weight (real talk).”

How she keeps performances fresh:
“I enjoy Nutcracker because it’s the time that I get to dance the most. In Flowers, right before I run on, I do a funny dance to make the dancer behind me or across from me laugh somehow. During Snow Scene, I make animal noises, only loud enough to make the girl I pass chuckle.”

Best
Nutcracker
memory: “Seeing two of my dear friends perform Mirlitons during the finale as their long ribbons get knotted together. I laughed so hard. One was not amused at all, and the other did her best to pretend it was intentional!”

A group of dancers in pink Nutcracker flower costumes hold each other's waists and lean back. Paige Adams, center has her eyes closed.

Adams avoids
Nutcracker
burnout by remembering that every performance is someone’s first ballet. Photo by Beau Pearson, courtesy Ballet West.

Paige Adams of Ballet West

Years dancing
Nutcracker
at Ballet West
:
8

How she keeps performances fresh: “
Sometimes I will pick something super-specific to focus on for an entire show, like my fingers or juicy pliés.”

Go-to
Nutcracker
fuel:
“A banana with almond butter. I tend to eat smaller, more frequent snacks to keep my energy up and to avoid feeling too full during a performance.”

Her self-care musts:
“Especially on back-to-back two-show days, the ice bucket becomes my new best friend. On days off, I will either schedule a massage or create my own spa hour at home with an Epsom salt bath and aromatherapy candles.”

Ballet West’s backstage ritual:
“In our corps women’s dressing room, we hang a long strand of little plastic monkeys, each representing a Nutcracker show. After every performance we remove the bottom monkey and loudly ‘Ooh-Ooh-Eee-Eee’ like monkeys. We may be delirious but it keeps things fun.”

Dancer Jaimi Cullen leaps in a partnered grand jetu00e9 in Nutcracker's party scene, wearing a black dress.

Cullen in Tulsa Ballet’s Party Scene. Photo courtesy Tulsa Ballet.

Jaimi Cullen of Tulsa Ballet

Years dancing
Nutcracker
at Tulsa Ballet
:
8

How her approach has changed:
“When I was first starting out in the company, I used to really ‘punch’ every step. I would put all of my energy into everything and tire out really fast. I’ve learned to manage my energy, how to use less force but still be dancing full-out.”

Extra
Nutcracker fuel:
“I sometimes put Nuun electrolyte tablets in my water to drink throughout the show.”

Self-care musts:
“I roll out my muscles as often as I can and I make sure to see the physical therapist or massage therapist in between shows if I’m having any specific tightness or pain.”

Blonde dancer Dawn Atkins in a high arabesque and bright smile dances Nutcracker's snow scene.

Atkins, here in Snow Scene, keeps her energy up with pumpkin seeds and trail mixes in her dressing room. Photo by Liza Voll, courtesy Boston Ballet.

Dawn Atkins of Boston Ballet

Years dancing
Nutcracker
with Boston Ballet
:
8

Favorite backstage treats:
“Peanut butter pretzel nuggets! We always have a big jar of them in the dressing room.”

Self-care musts:
“I try to make sure I’m letting myself rest between shows even if it’s just 15 minutes that I listen to music and just let myself nap a little bit. I also love using NormaTec boots.”

How she keeps performances fresh:
“I actually really like the feeling of being so familiar with a role that you can find new things to work on each time.”

Ballet dancer Chelsea Marie Renner sits on a yoga mat backstage to tie her pointe shoes on. She's wearing a light sweater over her Nutcracker snow costume and has toe tape and a bucket of rosin in front of her.

Renner getting ready backstage for the Snow Scene. Photo by Anne Marie Bloodgood, courtesy Ballet Austin.

Chelsea Marie Renner of Ballet Austin

Years dancing
Nutcracker
at Ballet Austin
:
14

How her approach has changed: “
When I came to Ballet Austin as a trainee at 18, it was about proving myself. Over the years, your body gets to know the choreography so well that you just get to go out onstage and dance.”

Favorite backstage treats:
“I always like to bake a tray of holiday cookies to share with everyone. You never know when you might need that little chocolate boost come show #10, or sooner!”

Self-care rituals:
“We make ice buckets and warm water buckets for contrast baths in the dressing room. I also like to take a hot shower, followed by stretching and rolling out after each show. On our off days, I spend time with my husband and my son to have a day away from ballet, so I can come back the next day fresh and ready to perform.”

Best
Nutcracker
memory:
“Last year, I got to perform the Sugar Plum Fairy for the first time since high school: My first year in The Nutcracker as a kid I was a mouse, and my last year before moving to Austin from Montana, I was the Sugar Plum Fairy; then in my first season at Ballet Austin I was a rat, and last year I got cast as the Sugar Plum Fairy.

“Every year The Nutcracker rolls around, all of those memories come flooding back, including the year I watched from the audience while pregnant with my son. Now I get to share my love of The Nutcracker with him every year.”