It's every young ballerina's dream -- to dance the role of Clara on stage in
The Nutcracker. For three young dancers at
All American Ballet School, their dream has come true.
"When I was three years old, I saw
The Nutcracker ballet on a video and I knew I wanted to dance," said Emily Van Dolah, age 14, who is one of three talented dancers performing the role of Clara in
All American Ballet Company's upcoming Holiday production of the beloved classic. Emily began dancing shortly thereafter and by the time she was eight, she had her sights set on becoming a professional dancer. "It's fun and exciting to dance up on stage for people, but you have to work really hard. You have to want it more than anything else. You have to be committed. You have to really love it."
Emily's commitment is demonstrated by the eight classes per week she takes at
All American Ballet School. She has great praise for her teacher, Olga Tchekachova,
AAB's Russian-born and classically-trained artistic co-director. "Ms. Olga is inspiring. She is precise and she also gives you the motivation. She brings out the best in you. In class, she tells me to 'do it like you're performing.'" And Emily says she loves performing. "I like showing people what I can do. It feels good when I'm up on stage," says Emily, beaming.
Emily performs the role of Clara on Saturday, December 22, the second show of the
The Nutcracker's three-day run. Also dancing the role of Clara are Jiae Azad, age 14, and Harmony Wallace, age 13, both
AAB School students who perform respectively on Friday, December 21 and Sunday, December 23 for the opening and closing shows.
Jiae's mother, Heewon, recalls, "When Jiae was four years old, she didn't like to play outside. I was worried that she wasn't getting enough exercise. Her preschool teacher suggested some form of regular indoor activity. I knew that Jiae had an artistic side, so I enrolled her in a ballet class." Jiae says now, "I can't imagine my life without dancing. I want to do something related to dance for as long as I live."
Harmony began dancing at the age of two, inspired by her two older sisters, Robyn and Heather, both of whom were
AAB students and performers under the direction of Clarissa Boeriu,
AAB's revered founder and former artistic director. Robyn, who is in her second year as a dance major at UC Irvine, will perform the Spanish dance as a guest artist in this year's
Nutcracker. Oldest sister Heather is in her third year of dancing professionally with the Eugene Ballet Company.
Harmony says, "I like ballet because it has more purpose than chasing a ball down a field. It's more disciplined and you get a really good workout." Her goal is to one day dance with a professional ballet company.
Each of the three Claras will be performing with their instructor and
AAB's artistic co-director, Sayat Asatryan, husband of Ms. Olga. Armenian-born, Mr. Sayat was classically-trained in Russia at the Voronezh Ballet School and St. Petersburg Ballet Academy. He is a highly-accomplished performer, with numerous internationally-performed leading role and solo credits to his name, among them being principal dancer for the Moscow Kremlin Ballet.
Says Camille Wallace, mother of Harmony, Robyn and Heather, and
AAB's Board President, "We are very fortunate to have a male instructor/director of Mr. Sayat's caliber with our School. Our dancers get the opportunity to experience partnering and beautiful lifts and to work with his all-around athleticism."
Performing along with the three Claras and Mr. Sayat, will be a contingent of
All American Ballet School students, in concert with accomplished guest artists, Sae Rom Lee, Jessica Carter and Kirsten Heinrich.
Come and be dazzled by one of the Claras and
AAB's entire cast in a traditional, glittery and uplifting Holiday production. Show times are Friday, December 21 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday December 22 at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 23 at 2:00 p.m. at Ventura College Theatre.
Tickets can be ordered at
650-6316 or online at
www.allamericanballet.org. Ticket prices are $24, $20, and $12.