It is a truth universally acknowledged that the moment the clock strikes midnight on Halloween, the holiday season has begun. And for dancers, that means only one thing: It's officially full-on Nutcracker time.
Sure, we've been in rehearsals since September, but it's not until ~spooky~ season ends that we can really start getting in the Nutcracker mood. And as the holidays kick into high gear, things around the studio start getting a little crazy. Here are the nine moods every dancer experiences at least once during the annual Nutcracker rush.
When You're Asked to Run "Waltz of the Flowers" for the 75th Time...Today
Just...it's seven minutes long.
When You Show Up to Rehearsal at 8 AM on a Sunday Morning
You'll be marking it until the coffee kicks in, sorry (not sorry).
When You Hear "The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" on the Radio
Or during a TV commercial, or at the supermarket...you get the drift.
When Someone Asks You to Pantomime
You're not quite sure what you're supposed to be saying here, and the audience probably won't understand it either. But hey, at least it looks cool!
When You Try on Your Battle Scene Costume
You know you're supposed to be dressed as a mouse, but couldn't it be just a little bit cuter?
When You Fall on the Fake Snow
The snow scene was going so great! And then—BAM.
When You Try Your Quick Change for the First Time
And of course, the costume you're changing into has different tights, shoes, makeup, and hair—plus arm puffs, a hat, and a hook-and-eye back.
When You Go Through Yet Another Pair of Pointe Shoes
It's the ones you love who hurt you the most.
When You Finally Get Onstage with Your Friends
And remember all of the many reasons you love The Nutcracker.