After the success of the show last year, the Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre has added a second showing of Ballet Victoria’s Nutcracker Ballet. The cast is made up of professional and community dancers. We caught up with Maia Zinselmeyer, the 13-year-old dancer from Nakusp who was cast as Clara, during a rehearsal.
How did you get started dancing?
I started dancing with my best friend. Her mom showed us that there was dance in Nakusp and we had the option between three classes and we decided to join jazz and then a bunch of our friends started dance too.
Have you danced ballet very much?
I’ve actually only done ballet for about two years now. But I really liked it when I started so I kept going.
What do you like about it?
I like that it’s different than what people think. People think it’s easy and fru fru, but it’s actually a lot about challenging your body.
How did you get involved with the Nutcracker?
Miss Jenny came to teach dance in Nakusp this year because our last dance teacher had to move out of town and she offered to us that we had the option to audition for the Nutcracker in Revelstoke and I decided to give it a try.
What were the tryouts like?
They were actually pretty chill. I was pretty comfortable. There were some girls and we just danced on stage and yeah.
How did you feel when you found out you won the part of Clara?
I was really excited. It’s definitely a new chapter in my dance endeavours. I’m really happy about that.
What’s your favourite thing about being able to dance this part?
I think it’s actually the acting because Clara is a very bubbly and sometimes dramatic little girl and you get to do lots of facials on stage and it’s really fun.
Any similarities between you and Clara?
I think maybe that Clara really likes her friends and she’s very social and I relate to that because I spend lots of time with my friends.
What have rehearsals been like?
They’ve been really fun and it’s nice to go for a day trip to Revelstoke and the girls are really nice. It’s great dancing with them and I’m learning a lot.
What are you looking forward to in these next couple weeks?
I’m getting really excited for the performance and really excited to get wrapped up and have the whole production together and be able to perform it on stage.
Have you ever seen the Nutcracker performed before?
I actually haven’t. Im pretty new to the whole production.
What do you hope people feel after they see you guys perform?
I hope that people really get in the Christmas spirit because that’s kind of what the Nutcracker is about. It’s all about Christmas and friends and family and I hope they take something away from that.
Catch Maia Zinselmeyer in the Nutcracker on Dec. 18 and 19. Tickets are available through the Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre.
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