Photo: Mikelle Bruzina as a Columbine Doll.
The Louisville Ballet invites you to experience The Brown-Forman Nutcracker. Performances run December 6 - 21. Ticketing & details...
The following story is shared by Mikelle Bruzina. Ms. Bruzina is a graduate of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. This season marks her thirteenth year with The Louisville Ballet and her fifth season as Principal dancer. Ms. Bruzina has danced in numerous productions of The Nutcracker across the United States.
Over the years, there have been a number of funny incidents that have happened during runs of ballets. This one happened to me a couple of years into doing the current production of The Brown-Forman Nutcracker.
I was in the dressing room waiting for my cue to go onstage as a Columbine Doll. I was ready with tights and shoes on, make-up done and wig in place. I just needed to put on my costume.
As the party scene continued, I was chatting backstage and suddenly heard my warning music!
There's a phrase in the music that we put words to - "Dolls to the box! Dolls to the box!"
In an absolute panic, I grabbed my costume, raced to the stage and got stuffed into the doll box with only one hook of my costume done up.
My heart was racing as we got wheeled out onto the stage.
Fortunately for me, the dancer playing Dr. Drosselmeyer was quick to assess the situation and came over to "fix" his broken doll - doing up all my hooks just in time for our dance.
It's a story that has become a legend in the generations of dolls that have since followed...and no one has ever been late for their doll entrance since!
Do you have a Nutcracker story you'd like to share? Perhaps your family has always made attending a performance of The Nutcracker part of your holiday plans. Or you may have danced in a Nutcracker production yourself. Share your story by clicking on the Comments link below this post.