Sara Sarkisian is a lyrical, point, contemporary, ballet, jazz and tap dancer. Asked her how long she has been dancing, she confidently states, “eight years, since I was seven.” Sarkisian is a sophomore here at Hudson High School and, aside from being involved in school clubs, she dances at her theater in Stow, Ohio. “Ballet Theater of Ohio was founded in 1993 I think…” After a quick google search, Sarkisian is correct. Ballet Theater of Ohio has produced many full length productions, including the acclaimed Nutcracker. “My favorite style of dance is ballet,” Sarkisian says. “It’s is calming and graceful…it is definitely one of the more pretty styles of dancing in my opinion.”
The most famous Russian composer of the 1840s, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, adapted E.T.A Hoffman’s story of The Nutcracker and turned it into a world renowned theatrical production. This beautiful ballet piece is performed every year at the Akron Civic Theater in downtown Akron. Dancers start preparing for The Nutcracker months before they perform on stage. Sarkisian says they begin practicing early. “We start at the end of July early August…that is when we start to get picked for roles as well as watching and learning some of the dances and moves.”
Practicing for the recital takes up seven hours of each student’s day. Civic week is the week leading up to the dance where the dancers rehearse in the Civic Theater. “During civic week I leave school early around 9th period. The studio is only 12 minutes away thankfully, but some of the girls I dance with have to travel up to 45 minutes.” Sarkisian continues, “we start dancing at 3:00 PM on the dot and by the time I am out of the studio it is 10:00.” Not just effort, but valuable time is put into the creation of the classical masterpiece. The Nutcracker doesn’t just mean preparation and perfection, but it also strengthens the bond of the dancers who have performed together from past years and future years to come.
“The girls I dance with during Nutcracker season I also dance competitively with outside of the season and we all are so close and it is nice since we all only see each other in the studio.” Having to spend so much time with the other dancers building relationships and strengthening chemistry between one another is how they all perform so well together. Sarkisian is grateful for her amazing studio that has gifted her incredible girls she can call friends.
“Being a dancer at The Ballet Theater of Ohio means that you automatically dance in the production.”
Sarkisian’s studio is the only one who puts on this performance, but there are others. “There is another dance studio that puts on a performance of The Nutcracker as well, but that is also just the girls who dance in that studio.” Sarkisian’s first major role in the production was as a doll. Last year, Sarkisian was Clara and this year she was Sugar Plum. Sarkisian, without a doubt, is a very talented dancer earning two of the most coveted roles.
Ballet Theater of Ohio puts together a childish spin on The Nutcracker called The Nutty Nutcracker where audience members will surely be laughing at the not-so holiday classic ballet. Sarkisian says, “we only do the nutty nutcracker a week before the real nutcracker every five years or so, so this was my first one.” As Sarkisian told me about this model of the dance, she also mentioned that she was Dewdrop. Dewdrop is the leader of the flowers and fairies in one of the longest dancing scenes in the ballet. Another coveted role checked off the list!!
It is only a matter of time until after the spring production of Sleeping Beauty will Ballet Theater of Ohio dancers start to prepare for their beloved nutcracker and Sarkisian will twirl her way into another leading role.
