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CAPTION :
Fifth-graders Brady Knowlton, as the Nutcracker, center left, and Mercedes Florez, as Maria, center right, are surrounded by waltzing flowers while rehearsing “The Flower Waltz” during a dress rehearsal of the annual fifth-grade production of “The Nutcracker” Dec. 12 at Ware Elementary School.
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The stage was set, and the students were in place as the curtain opened.
“Well, here it is, almost Christmas again, and, if I do say so myself, it’s going to be a white one. Why, this is just about the coldest Christmas I can remember. And I can remember quite a few,” began Brady Knowlton, fifth-grader, in the title role of “The Nutcracker” during a dress rehearsal Dec. 12 at Ware Elementary School.
The dress rehearsal marked the first time students were able to practice in costume before two full performances Dec. 13. This year marked the fifth annual production of the holiday musical.
“Both of our performances went really well,” said Freedom Brass, music teacher, Ware Elementary School. “We had a great turnout.”
Brass and fellow music teacher Susan Gillespie are in charge of the production each year. The choreography largely stays the same, save for small changes they make to accommodate different groups.
“A lot of teachers thanked us,” Brass said. “It’s something they look forward to every year.”
This year, Gillespie said she was excited to perform on the newly renovated stage, which allowed for different lighting effects, blocking and decorations.
A teacher at heart, Gillespie said she also likes that students have the opportunity to be exposed to the classical music of Tchaikovsky.
“A lot of them get interested in the music and like it,” she said.
“I usually get to see kids start to blossom and kind of mature a little bit through the process and really try something new that many of them have never tried before.”
Parents also like that all of the students are on stage during the entire performance, according to Gillespie.
“Everybody has that chance to shine because they all have a part,” she said. “Every child is featured in a dance. (Every student is) helping tell the story.”
Knowlton’s parents were excited to see him do so well in the lead role, Brass said, and told her he learned his lines within a few weeks.
Students auditioned for parts in October, and rehearsals began in November. For students in the chorus, Gillespie and Brass tried to match them with their first or second choice of dances.
“It’s quite a process,” Gillespie said. “But it’s a great payoff to see the kids having fun.”
“(The students) were very excited,” Brass said. “They worked really hard.”
“This group has really good voices,” Gillespie said, “and one of the nice things this year (was that they) learned the dances faster than any group we’ve had in the past.”
Both Brass and Gillespie said they enjoy seeing younger students get excited about the performance and talk about the roles they want to play when they reach fifth grade.
Now that the lights are down and the curtain is drawn, the time has come for Brass and Gillespie to put costumes and props away until next year.
“It’ll take us a couple of days to put (everything) away and pack it all up for next year,” Brass said.
By Julie Fiedler
1st Inf. Div. Post
Julie Fiedler | POST
Fifth-graders Brady Knowlton, as the Nutcracker, center left, and Mercedes Florez, as Maria, center right, are surrounded by waltzing flowers while rehearsing “The Flower Waltz” during a dress rehearsal of the annual fifth-grade production of “The Nutcracker” Dec. 12 at Ware Elementary School.
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