Many ballet dancers dream of being the Sugar Plum Fairy.
This is the second year that Children’s Ballet Theatre member Andrea Durst’s dreams have come true.
“It’s the role that you always want,” the 17-year-old Okemos resident said. “You look up to that dancer.”
This weekend, the theater troupe will perform “The Nutcracker” in Wharton Center’s Great Hall. The family-run Children’s Ballet Theatre, with dancers ranging in age from 8 to 18, has been performing for 20 years.
Costume designer Mary Durst, Andrea’s mother, estimates that during those years “The Nutcracker” has reached more than 150,000 children, parents, grandparents and ballet fans.
Theatre President Kim Slick attributes some of her involvement with the theater to her experience as a dancer, but she wishes she had performed “The Nutcracker” as a child.
“I have two daughters in it, and although I was once a dancer, I never got this far and always regretted it,” Slick said.
The children in the show put forth a lot of effort, Andrea Durst said.
“There is a huge commitment; the students are generally overachievers,” Slick agreed.
The dancers pledge a large amount of time to the theater and generally give up their weekends. Some dancers travel from Livonia, Ann Arbor, or even Ithaca to participate.
Balancing “The Nutcracker” and their everyday lives is a difficult task for dancers, parents and even the artistic director.
“It’s a commitment for everyone. You have to love and have a passion (for dance),” Artistic Director Gregory George said. “Otherwise you’re doing it for the wrong reason.”
As if balancing “The Nutcracker” with a busy school schedule isn’t enough, each dancer is required to take lessons outside of the technique training for “The Nutcracker.”
George doubles as a construction supervisor, Andrea Durst is a student with a part-time job and Corunna resident Mitchell Louch, 16, is a student and a football quarterback.
“I used to (get teased), but I did a dance with the pompom squad,” Louch said. “Everyone saw me with 20 other girls and they shut up.”
“The Nutcracker” is at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday. For ticket information call (800) WHARTON or 432-2000.
