All Student Production Of The Nutcracker! - Cincinnati Event

Local Rendition of Nutcracker Embodying Holiday Spirit (Cincinnati, Ohio) - - Around this time of year, performances of the classic holiday ballet "The Nutcracker" pop up all over the country. Chances are, none of them are quite like the rendition led by Mary St. Romain of the St. Romain Dance Academy in Liberty Township, Ohio. That's because year to year, Mary herself doesn't always know what's going to happen. Featuring an all-children cast, every year the show is slightly different, reinvented in order to accommodate or create roles for anyone that wants to be a part of the show. But it's not just the unique characters and sequences that make these performances stand apart, it's also the soul of Mary St. Romain's dance operation. When she opened her dance studio 5 years ago, after 35 years of dancing experience, her goal wasn't to groom future dance professionals like most studios. St. Romain wanted to make a difference by providing children a positive recreational outlet that builds self-esteem. "The most rewarding aspect is watching these kids grow on and off the dance floor," says St. Romain. "It's seeing them overcome obstacles, working towards their goals and finding satisfaction within themselves and their achievements." The St. Romain Dance Academy has been putting on the show since 2002, and from the get go, any child that has wanted to participate can, regardless of their size or skill level. It's not about finding the best or skinniest dancers: "There is no stereotype casting here," St. Romain continued. "We aren't looking for kids to fit into certain roles…the kids define the roles. We wrap our roles around our children." Girls have often thanked her for not pitting them against one another, which most dance studios normally do during tryouts, fostering unhealthy rivalry and jealousy. Mary takes away that aspect of competition for roles and makes sure everyone gets a chance to sparkle on stage with an opportunity for a solo. The cast ranges in age from 6 years old to 18. The Nutcracker has 125 kids participating this year from the Mason and Lakota school districts, including 5 boys. How do the kids feel about being in a show that gives everyone a chance at the spotlight, rather than placing emphasis the perfect performance? Over 80% of the cast has returned each year! And each year, children get the opportunity to learn different roles. Normally, if a student was amazing in a role the year before, it would be easy to place them in the same role again, knowing that they will look good. But Mary knows it's more important to keep challenging children with different roles, and giving everyone a chance for new experience, rather then taking the easy way out. The cast is a dedicated one, practicing on their precious Saturdays for 12 straight weeks leading up to their performances on both Dec. 9th and Dec. 16th, with shows at both 2pm and 5pm. Held at Lakota East High School auditorium, a stadium style theater with a capacity of 570, it's only $8 a ticket. There are four opportunities to see this family-friendly holiday classic! Please call 513-779-015 for more information.