Young dancers across Southwest Florida are eagerly auditioning for a cherished holiday tradition, The Nutcracker performance. The auditions took place at the Robin Dawn Academy, where local talent is ready to bring magic and music to the stage.
Natalia Hutchings, a dancer, expressed her lifelong passion for dancing.
“I’ve been dancing all my life, yeah, ever since day one,” Hutchings said. “My mom was a professional dance teacher, so I was kind of like born into it. I was always at the studio, always dancing, always training.”
Hutchings shared her excitement for auditioning again this year.
“Last year I auditioned for the Nutcracker here, and it was an amazing experience, and I just wanted to do it again and again with all my best friends,” Hutchings said.
She also described the preparation required for the performance.
“It takes at least a month to get everything in our minds and ready to go on stage and nail it,” Hutchings said. “I have these jitters in my stomach and butterflies, but it’s always amazing.”
Hutchings dreams big when it comes to her future in dance.
“I want to become a professional dancer. I want to be in all the biggest shows ever. I’m reaching for the stars,” Hutchings said.
Sarah Cascone, the audition director, noticed something special in the young dancers this year.
“I saw a lot of little dancers this year that are very special and they have like these sprinkles, you know, in their eyes when they just think about the Nutcracker. And so, this makes, you know, my heart melt and I love to work with them,” Cascone said.
Cascone highlighted the unique message of this year’s performance.
“So, this one, it’s for sure the one that it’s more into, you know, the concept of peace and harmony between also the different cultures,” Cascone said. “Because we are different dancers that are coming from all over the world. We are Italians, Ukrainians, Japanese. And so, we melt together. So, we try to create, you know, these kind of syncretism between the cultures that helps also for the young kids, you know, to be part of. And I think it’s a very good lesson for them.”
The Nutcracker will grace the stage on December 30 at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers. As the excitement builds, the young dancers continue their preparations in Cape Coral.