By Andrea McBride
Staff Writer
CARO — Nine dancers from Sue’s School of Dance have been provided a dance experience like never before.
They will perform in the Moscow Ballet’s Russian Nutcracker at 7 p.m. on Dec. 3 at the Temple Theatre in Saginaw.
The Great Russian Nutcracker is an annual North American tour that allows area dancers to take part in each show, dancing collaboratively with members of the Moscow Ballet.
The show’s other Michigan stops include Detroit and Kalamazoo.
Approximately 50 dancers from the area, including nine from Sue’s School of Dance, auditioned for the show at the Temple Theatre and all were given parts. Usually some dancers get cut, but this year there were more spots than people who showed up.
“They all made it, but it was a really good experience for them,” said dance instructor Elizabeth Swoish. “That doesn’t always happen, though. This year they had less people (try out) than they thought they would.”
Swoish teaches the girls Vaganova-style ballet each week, which is her favorite style and also the style used in the Nutcracker. The girls also must attend practice at a dance studio in Essexville every Friday for instruction from Moscow Ballet teachers. They are immediately cut from the show if they miss a Friday practice.
“They (take) strict classes every week, like bar work (and) floor work, they all have to have their hair in a bun and they all have to be ready. They go through strict training, so I’m really proud,” Swoish said.
This is the first year that students from Sue’s School of Dance will participate in the Nutcracker production.
“They’re mostly recreational dancers, so it’s a big deal,” Swoish said.
Swoish, who is certified through the National Dance Education Organization, has been a teacher at Sue’s School of Dance for three years. Along with attending college, she said dancing is her life, as she teaches 18 classes to 300 students each week.
She frequently searches for opportunities such as the Nutcracker, hoping to get her students’ names out there.
“I just want what’s best for them because I had a teacher who didn’t necessarily put these things in my path. I had to find them. I just want to be able to give them everything that they need,” Swoish said.
She said experiences such as the Nutcracker will continually help her dancers grow.
“If I can give them all these opportunities to perform, they’re going to be awesome.”
Visit www.templetheatre.info to purchase tickets for the show.