What a Doll!

Makenna had the amazing opportunity to audition for the Ballet Etudes Nutcracker this year.  This happened to be their 25th anniversary and Makenna was SO excited to try out for it!

Back in October, her 2 best friends, Emma and Bailey auditioned with her.  They all waited anxiously for the letter in the mail that would tell them if they made the ballet, and if so, what part.

Well, luckily they all 3 made it, and were selected for the same parts: Little Dolls.  Now, this isn't a large part (the Nucracker is primarily made up of small parts anyway, and this one is particularly small) but the girls couldn't have been more excited.  Seriously, Makenna was running around the house after opening the letter, I have never seen her this excited.

Over the next 2 months, they had practices every Saturday before they put the big production together.  They had 2 casts of dancers, and we managed to get all 3 of them in the same cast.  They became good friends with the other dancers and spent much time backstage coloring and playing with their new friends.

  Makenna even had a friend from her class last year, Sasha, who played a Baby Mouse.

 The girls each had different costumes, to portray dolls from different countries.  I'm not exactly sure what Makenna's was, but we said either she was a ballerina, or she was from Sweeden.  Any ideas???  Bailey was  Dutch doll and Emma was Egyptian.

 The 3 best friends.

 

Now, I wasn't as happy with the costume once the crazy make-up was added, but I guess from the audience it was okay.  Here she is...Makenna the Doll.

 The Dutch Doll and Ballerina

 After completing 6 shows in 3 weekends, you would think Makenna would be ready to be done.  SO not the case!  She was crying on the last night because she didn't want it to be done.

Here she is on the last night, before the last show, with the lead, Clara.

  After the last performance, they asked the kids in the audience if they wanted a tour of the show, with the backstage secrets, so we stayed after.  She was able to do pictures with a lot of the cast. 
 

Emma and Makenna on the set.

Clara and Makenna

Makenna and Sugar Plum Fairy

Emma, Makenna, and Lauren in the bench that Clara sits on.

Emma and Makenna in Clara's sleigh

As exhausting as all of this was as the mom, Makenna LOVED the experience and it was amazing for her.  I have never seen her so excited to be a part of something, and she has a new obsession with Nutcrackers.  She received her first Nutcracker for Christmas this year, and I'm sure it will becoming a new tradition. 

As for next year, she is already planning it out...she wants to be a mouse.