(PHOTO COURTESY OF SOMA CENTER FOR DANCE)
GLASGOW, Ky. — The culmination of several rehearsals will reveal itself Friday evening as SOMA Center for Dance unveils its first showing of “The Nutcracker.”
Tori Beck, assistant director of SOMA, said initial preparations for the production began in June. Later preparations began in August, and practices have since filled most weeks.
“It’s just been weekly rehearsals,” Beck said. “We have at least five rehearsals a week with different groups of people. Lots of time.”
The organic unity of the dance company’s performers is second to none in the region. SOMA produced “The Rite of Spring” earlier this year. The company has also choreographed “The Velveteen Rabbit.”
SOMA’s origination nearly three years was rooted in the opportunity to provide proper dance instruction to youth in the area.
Trevor Edwards, SOMA’s founder and Glasgow native, attended Western Kentucky University and earned a degree in dance. He’s since proven his ability to take raw talent and further educate local dancers.
Edwards also boasts the assistance of Beck, a fellow WKU Dance graduate.
“The Nutcracker” was written as a story in 1816 by Prussian author E.T.A. Hoffmann. Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky later adapted the story into a ballet performance in 1892.
“Throughout this whole process, Trevor and I have to make sure that we are on the same thought process with what’s happening in each piece so that we have a consistent storyline together,” Beck said.
Faith Curry, 13, will portray the dragon master. Curry said she began dancing seven years ago, and “The Nutcracker” is her first show with SOMA.
“In my opinion, it’s been really busy – especially this week,” Curry said. “We’ve been rushing to get everything right and get it done. Not perfect but really good for the performance so the audience can enjoy it and we can enjoy ourselves, too.”
Ellie Ball, 14, said she joined SOMA at its inception. She will portray Madam Tucan.
“It’s been so much fun,” Ball said. “I mean, we’ve kind of been practicing just in our variation groups. So, to all come together and see everything together has been so much fun. It’s been so cool.”
The production is a story-telling performance, Beck said. She described the show as a “theatre take on ballet.”
Curry said the choreography for SOMA’s show takes on a different model.
“They’ve changed it now to where there’s different genres of dance,” Curry said. “So not one dance that’s ballet. It’s more of acting and expressing our emotions and stuff instead of going off stage and moving onto the next one.”
The performance is scheduled Friday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. Another showing is slated Saturday, Dec. 4 at 2 p.m. Both performances will be at the Historic Plaza Theatre in Glasgow. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the event’s start time.
General admission is $15. Student, senior and group tickets are $12. Tickets are available here.