Virginia's The Center Dance Company Brings the 'Nutcracker' to Arlington

Last weekend, standing-room-only crowds at the 750 seat Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre in Arlington cheered Virginia’s own, The Center Dance Company’s full length Nutcracker production. Four sold-out productions delighted the audience of all ages; with exquisite dancing by soloists and the humorous playing by the younger cast.

Clara, danced by Rachel Peterson, a 14 year-old resident of Falls Church, mesmerized the young audience members as she danced with her Nutcracker Prince, 17 year-old Jamison Turney Foreman of Annandale. Their dancing uniquely captured the innocence of their relationship. Miss Peterson spent her last summer at Joffrey Ballet School in New York and Mr. Foreman spent his summer at Alvin Ailey and New York University ballet programs.

The cast of 81 dancers had energy, precision and smiles for everyone. Their enthusiasm was complimented by the terrific staging, lighting and props. The dancers train at Arlington Center for Dance, a leading ballet school that has been training per-professional dancers in the Washington, DC area for over 20 years.

Emma Misner, was a captivating Sugar Plum Fairy who led her Cavalier, Troy Brown, and her subjects, in a beautifully executed Kingdom of the Sweets. Emma recently won “The Washington Post Dance Award” and has been selected to participate in the Kennedy Center’s Master Class Series, a prestigious program where the top local pre-professional dancers take classes with the professional dancers who come to perform at the Kennedy Center.

Two of the soloists, Rachel Frank, who danced the Chinese solo and Melanie Paret, who danced the Arabian solo were also invited to participate in the Master Class Series. This is the second year in a row that a student from Arlington Center for Dance has received the “Washington Post Dance award.” Miss Misner was one of four Arlington Center for Dance dancers invited to perform at the Award ceremonies at the Warner Theatre.

The first act promised the audience an exciting story as a spellbinding Drosselmeyer, acted by James Selway, provided gifts to the party children including three life-sized dolls danced by soloists Carmella Ollero, Lorna Schadeberg and Molly Roy. The calm of the Land of the Snow contrasted wonderfully with the intensity of the battle scenes before it and created an anticipation of truly excellent dancing to follow the precise dancing of Katherine Rothwell as the Snow Queen. The soloists, all high school students, flawlessly danced with so much pizzazz that audience members could not believe that these dancers also carry a full school load and were not full-time professional dancers.

Nancie Woods, Artistic Director of The Center Dance Company and Arlington Center for Dance choreographed the production with help from Caroline Warren, one of the Center’s faculty members.