NYCB Vol. 13. No. 14 - Nutcracker
- Lauryn Johnson
- Dec 8, 2024
- 2 min read

[14/52] Counting down 52 NYCB Nutcrackers this year with stories from NYCB dancers past and present! Today we hear from Kim Kokich who was an SAB scholarship student 1966-1974.
“I was four years old when my parents took me to see NYCB's Nutcracker, then performed at City Center. I was terrified during the battle scene and remember my father (a former soloist with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo) comforting me. Five years later, I was accepted at SAB as a Ford Foundation Scholarship student in the fall of 1966. I was nine years old. The following week I auditioned for The Nutcracker. Una Kai conducted the audition, and chose me to be one of the Maries. I believe Mr. Balanchine had to approve that choice. During the dress rehearsal, he coached me during the tree growing scene, making sure that I understood how to raise my head slowly as I watched the tree grow, and not to overact as I ran backwards to take in the entirety of the tree as it grew. I was in B Cast.
“On my opening night during the party scene, I tripped and nearly fell into the orchestra pit. I was mortified but got right up and continued, forcing myself not to cry. Karin von Aroldingen was my mother, Frau Stahlbaum, and during that performance in the scene where she places her shawl on me and kisses my cheek she whispered not to worry, that she has also fallen on stage. I adored her.

“My proudest moment was when, during intermission, Mr. B told me I did well. The feeling of being onstage, dancing to that glorious music, has never left me. I was so lucky to see Melissa Hayden as the Sugar Plum Fairy. And Allegra Kent as Dewdrop. The cast of amazing dancers that year was outstanding. The principals during the run included Jacques d'Amboise, Edward Villella, Patricia McBride, and Violette Verdy. I still get chills and teary-eyed whenever I hear music of the tree growing scene. I learned so much from that experience, especially the value of focus, of maintaining composure no matter what happens onstage or off, and Madame Pourmel's rule: that you never, ever, sit or eat while in costume. Finally, regardless of how many Nutcrackers there are around the country or the world these days, Mr. Balanchine's remains for me forever the best!”
Comments