‘Nutcracker’ season: Passion, drive and beauty on display in ballet

The world of ballet is most commonly known for its stellar display of emotions, graceful twirls and storytelling. "The Nutcracker" has become one of the most prominent ballets as it epitomizes all of these aspects and is a show performers like junior Felicia Hung and sophomore Sarah Auches look forward to all year.

Hung began ballet when she was 3, starting at Los Gatos Recreation Center after watching videos of  Svetlana Zakharova, a famous ballet dancer. As Hung progressed through dancing, she struggled to do certain moves or poses.

“Having been born with weaker ankles, it took me awhile to be able to stand on pointe,” Hung said. “After years of training, it has improved a lot, but [I have had] multiple injuries that have affected not just dancing but maneuvering around in daily life.”

Despite the injuries, Hung stuck with dance. Though she does not enter dance competitions, she participates in the annual Nutcracker held by her dance academy, the Pacific Ballet Academy in Mountain View. Performances are during Thanksgiving break and the holiday season. During this time, Hung said, ballet becomes her life.

“Once rehearsals start, I basically live in the studio once school ends and on Saturdays,” Hung said. “I don’t get to relax and catch up with homework since I usually camp out in the dressing rooms of the theater.”

Now preparing for her fourth year in “The Nutcracker,” Hung said she has learned not only how to work hard but also how to adapt to anything that happens.

“There are times where I don’t get picked roles I want, and I know the [audition]  process isn’t always 100 perfect fair,” Hung said. “Of course I get disappointed, but I grow to love the parts I am given and make the most out of my acting.” This year, she is playing the part of the Spanish and Arabian lead.

Hung said that what motivates her to participate each year is the connections she has formed through dance ever since her first lesson at the dance academy more than 11 years ago.

“Although we are all competitors, we still love each other and spend time together joking around,” Hung said. “From crying over homework to talking about life and boy problems, we are always the first to consult each other.”

Fellow ballet dancer sophomore Sarah Auches, it is also “Nutcracker” season. Auches began practicing on Sept. 8 as she prepares to perform with Los Gatos Ballet in the roles of the Soldier Doll, Snow Flower, and most importantly the Dew Drop Fairy.

During other times of the year, she practices four times per week for a minimum of two hours. For “The Nutcracker,” however, she must practice for an additional hour and a half on Saturday and attend two-hour long rehearsals as the performance date comes closer.

Right before the performance weekend is the "theater week" in which the dancers have rehearsals after school every day until around eight at night, Auches said. On Wednesday and Thursday of that week, there are tech and dress rehearsals, so practices start after school and finish around 10 p.m.

Despite the strenuous schedule that comes with the performance, Auches said that ballet is “something that has become both routine and increasingly important to me. Every year I look forward to getting up on stage and performing in front of an audience, but my favorite part is the time I get to spend with my friends at the theater.”