Dancers prep for "Nutcracker" ballet

APPLETON - For dancers everywhere the holidays mean one thing. The chance to dance "The Nutcracker."

"For children it's that dream of being a ballet dancer, for other children it's just the story of the nutcracker that they love," Makaroff Youth Ballet Director Jeanett Makaroff said.

The youth ballet performs part of the Nutcracker every year, but this December will dance the full-length ballet to allow more students to participate.

"We really just want to do it more and more, it's a blast up there," student Rachel Hyland said.

But it takes a lot of work to get students stage-ready. Makaroff says what you see in the final performance, starts at the barre.

"There's an enormous amount of work that is involved for the dancers," she said. "It means that they have to attend their classes, because that's where they hone their craft, that's where they work on their posture and their flexibility and their body alignment."

Students of all ages from six and seven-year-olds, to the company's advanced teenage dancers will make the classic tale come alive in the Stansbury Theater at Lawrence University.

Sixth-grader Brooke Bayer plays Clara, the young girl who's godfather gives her a Nutcracker during a Christmas party.

"We have rehearsals every week, sometimes on Saturday and always on Sunday," Bayer said.

While there's a lot of work involved, the dancers say the ballet inspires them. They look forward to the show every year.

"What it really means is letting everybody's dreams come true," dancer Payton Bayer said.

Including those in the audience. The ballet has been so popular the company added a third show. Makaroff eventually hopes to get other community groups involved.

"The nonprofit organizations in the Fox Valley can say we own this, this is our gift to the community," she said.

One, the brings everyone together for the holidays.

The youth ballet will perform at 1 and 7p.m. Dec. 12 and at 2 p.m. Dec. 13.