Ballet is beyond cool. It is a unique expression of a story and music combined. The dancers have gone through years of practises and hours of gruelling rehearsals to be able to grace the stage.
With a live symphony supporting the dance performance, this only adds to the special experience of ballet.
The cast of more than 200 performers puts on a show for about 10,000 guests every year. Many families make The Goh Ballet's Nutcracker their holiday tradition.
The Goh Ballet shared with me some of the top reasons why ballet continues to be cool today:
Defy Gravity:
"When I leap across the stage it is as close to flying and suspending for a split second in the air as I will ever get purely on my own powers." - Chan Hon Goh, Executive Producer of Goh Ballet's The Nutcracker
Being a Princess:
"With a tiara on and the most regal tutu fit to measure, I bring to life the magic of another place and time." - Chan Hon Goh, Executive Producer of Goh Ballet's The Nutcracker
Pushing your physical boundaries
"Like any adrenaline junkie, dancing holds incredible risks. Serious injury is always a breath away. I loved stepping into a class or rehearsal and pushing my mind and body to squeeze in one more pirouette, add in one extra entrechat quatre or stretch my arabesque just a little bit longer." - Fiona Smith, Associate Director of the Goh Ballet Academy Junior School
Dual mastery
"Most activities require you to master one form- ballet requires you to perfect the physical sport and master the artistry all in the same breath. You are an actor, a performer, an interpreter, an instrument, and convey emotion and intrigue to your audience. Simultaneously, your body is executing amazing feats of strength, endurance, flexibility, and stamina- much like an Olympic athlete." - Fiona Smith, Associate Director of the Goh Ballet Academy Junior School
Skill champion
"Have you ever seen a dancer spin on the ball of one foot in a perfect pirouette, spinning 6-8 times and balancing perfectly poised at the end? Incredible. Using no props, no soft floor, no assistance of any kind, ballet dancers amaze audiences with their gravity-defying skills." - Fiona Smith, Associate Director of the Goh Ballet Academy Junior School
The Sets
"Gives a production life. Adds to the quality of the story and makes it all real. This final touch is what transports the audience to another place and another time." - Tanya Phelps, Goh Ballet Instructor and Special Projects Associate, who also plays the role of Clara's mother in the Goh Ballet's Nutcracker
Characterization
"An escape from reality. You get to be someone or something else. The chance to be a princess, to be a swan, to be a soldier, to be the rat king, to be a peasant and to be a sugar plum fairy." - Tanya Phelps, Goh Ballet Instructor and Special Projects Associate, who also plays the role of Clara's mother in the Goh Ballet's Nutcracker
Expression
"To emote a feeling or express yourself with movements when you can't find the words. Movements can transcend a powerful message to a captivate audience." - Tanya Phelps, Goh Ballet Instructor and Special Projects Associate, who also plays the role of Clara's mother in the Goh Ballet's Nutcracker.
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