*All images by Rosalie O'Connor
With Thanksgiving passing and the winter holidays swiftly approaching, we are reminded of all we have to be grateful for. I took a few minutes to ask some of the dancers what they are thankful for and how they spent their four-day weekend.
Joshua Stayton traveled to Cincinnati to visit his family with Jose Antonio Checa Romero. They are both thankful for “family, friends, and the arts.”
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| Joshua Stayton |
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| Jose Antionio Checa Romero |
Although distance prevented a big family celebration this year, Alexandra Bergman is thankful that her whole family is healthy. She enjoyed this past weekend “doing mother daughter things with Sanya,” before the Nutcracker performances begin.
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| Alexandra Bergman |
There is no Thanksgiving in Japan, but since coming to the United States, it has become one of Hanae Seki’s favorite holidays. For dinner, she cooked Japanese food with fellow dancer, Yoshihisa Arai. She is thankful that dance has allowed her to have so many friends of different nationalities.
I drove home to Arkansas and spent a wonderful weekend with those who I am most thankful for, my family. There was never a dull moment with five of us kids, my parents, grandparents, friends, five dogs, and two cats in the house.
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| Hanae Seki |
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| Yoshihisa Arai |
Now, back in the studio with tummies full of turkey, we return to Nutcracker rehearsals in full swing. Although Tulsa Ballet’s version differs from the traditional story, it is just as magical, if not more, with the glamorous costumes, the extravagant scenery, and the different choreography. The polonaise is more challenging and the second act demonstrates the strengths of the company members.
I remember first seeing this Nutcracker with my mother when I was eleven and leaving the theater without a doubt in my mind that I wanted to be on that stage. The next year my mom drove me to Tulsa each day in order to train with the school. I will never forget when I received the letter saying that I would share the part of young Marie with two of my friends. My mom had just picked my siblings and me up from school and we were pulling into the neighborhood when we stopped to get the mail. That was only the beginning of the magic for me.
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| Soo Youn Cho and Alfonso Martin dancing the roles of Marie and Charles in The Nutcracker |
This Nutcracker has always held a special place in my heart and I only wish the people of Tulsa will leave the theater as enchanted as I felt those nine years ago.
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