‘The Nutcracker’ continues holiday tradition

By Michelle James

For more than 100 years, the story of Clara, a young girl who spends an enchanted, magical Christmas evening, has left audiences mesmerized.

Locally, the Beckley Dance Theatre’s version of the Russian holiday favorite “The Nutcracker” has dazzled audiences since 1964.

Although the cast of dancers changes throughout the years, as young students dance their ways into the main roles, many “Nutcracker” alums, who find it difficult to stay away from the stage, as well as theater director Jerry Rose, return each year.

Among those seasoned veterans are Beverly Reinhart and Pat Almond, who both appeared in the first performance in 1964.

For Almond, “The Nutcracker” has become a family affair. Almond continues to dance in the adult party scene as well as work on the tech crew and says her daughter also danced and now does the lighting and her son is also involved in the tech crew.

“I think we do an awesome production,” she said. “The lighting, the sets, the costumes and everything are just on a professional level.”

Reinhart no longer dances but serves as the stage manager, a role she says keeps her on her toes.

“It’s a different type of challenge than dancing,” she said. “People who work in the back of the house are often the unsung heroes because they are not seen. You have to keep your wits about you and if there are problems, you have to react and keep moving without the audience realizing there are problems.”

Both women say in addition to their love of the stage, a main motivating force in their annual return is a love for the man who started their dancing careers.

“There’s just something about Jerry Rose,” Almond said. “He’s just a wonderful person. He makes you feel so good about everything you do.”

Reinhart added, “He made a huge impact on my life as a teenager and he has done the same with many others.

“The type of impact he made was teaching us a love of beauty, a love of performing and a love of dance. That’s what keeps me coming back to help him.”

Craig Spurlock is another veteran who has found his way back to his former instructor and back to “The Nutcracker” stage.

“He’s just a really special guy and he has a lot of energy,” Spurlock said of Rose.

Reinhart, Almond and Spurlock all say there is something magical about “The Nutcracker,” and encourage anyone who has never seen the local production to check out this year’s performances.

“I think some people might think of it as just a performance for the children, but really it’s for children of all ages,” Spurlock said. “I think that it has something for everybody.

“It just represents the magic of Christmas.”

Rose describes “The Nutcracker” in a similar manner.

“It shows what’s in the heart of every adult and that’s possibly the longing to return to the age of innocence when dreams could come true and when you went to sleep having imaginings about things that were magical and fanciful and about the lights of the Christmas tree,” he explained. “I still remember going to sleep in the room where the Christmas tree lights were glowing and feeling in my heart that there was something special about that tree.

“That’s what’s special about ‘The Nutcracker.’”

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The Beckley Dance Theatre will perform “The Nutcracker” at the Woodrow Wilson High School Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 and 6 and at 2 p.m. Dec. 7.

Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at the Beckley Dance Theatre at 112 Raleigh Ave. as well as Artrageous Studio.

— E-mail: mjames@register-herald.com