NYCB Vol. 13 No. 26 & 27 - Nutcracker

“Like thousands of little girls of my generation, I was captivated with the book ‘A Very Young Dancer,’ by Jill Krementz, which follows an SAB student who is cast as Marie in NYCB's The Nutcracker.

"I read the book again and again, studying every detail of the beautiful photographs. Most magical to me was the one in which a diminutive Marie kneels at the foot of the massive Christmas tree, sheltering her beloved Nutcracker in his bed in the middle of the most expansive stage I had ever seen. It captured my imagination in a profound way, and planted the seeds of my dream of becoming a professional dancer.

“I was an apprentice when NYCB made a movie of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker for theatrical release. We shot the snow scene in August, on my 18th birthday. As the first snowflake to enter, I stayed a second day to film the transition where the prince places the crown on Marie's' head and they walk offstage as the snow begins to fall. Macaulay Culkin was the prince, and I have a surreal memory of passing time playing cards with him and his stand-in. 

“In my 15 years of Nutcracker with the company, the part I danced the most was Lead Marzipan. I did it a LOT. One day a stagehand and friend, Marty Prudenti, said, ‘Hey, Edge. When is the book coming out?’ Confused, I asked, ‘What book?’  ‘My Life as a Marzipan,’ he deadpanned. I think I threw my flute at him. The role didn't have the sweeping glamour of Dewdrop or the warm elegance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, but it did suit me, with lots of hops on point and precise foot work. 

“After one show, Jacques d'Amboise came backstage and ran over to me. ‘You were wonderful! It's the hardest role in The Nutcracker!’ Each part has its unique challenges, but of course, Jacques had the sweetest way of making people feel seen and valued. 

“Back to the tree: I never did one performance without standing in the wings to watch it ‘grow.' I relished the build of the music, as the twinkling tree climbs and climbs, reaching its full height as the oversized windows close and the cymbal crashes with a triumph. It truly never lost its magic for me.”