I think this is my last catch-up post from 2021!  It’s taken a while to finish, but there were so many memorable events from last year I wanted to include.  

In December, Anna danced in her ballet studio’s production of the Nutcracker, titled A Colorado Nutcracker.  Basically, the same show but Colorado history incorporated.  The evening takes place at Glen Eyrie castle with General Palmer the host.  Nikola Tesla was a guest of the Palmers, so he makes an appearance in the show too.  Anna played an orphan boy – not part of the original Nutcracker, but part of this show.  Her costume was a white shirt, black hat and black knickers and she was the cutest little orphan boy on stage (on the far right – below).

In addition to her regular three weekly classes, rehearsals began last September every Saturday for this show and Anna worked very, very hard for months.  There were numerous dress rehearsals as we got closer to performance time which was a lot, but in the end, was so worth it.  We knew it would be. 

The performance was held at the Pikes Peak Center, the largest stage and home of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic in our city.  The same stage we’ve seen Skillet perform, STOMP, Les Mis, Cinderella, etc.  The list goes on and on.  We love this theater and Anna felt so honored that her studio was able to dance there.  

At the first dress rehearsal at the Pikes Peak Center, I took her picture before she entered backstage.  We thought it was so cool that she was using the entrance marked only for performers.  

The week leading up to the show with many dress rehearsals was very tiring for Anna.  In fact, before leaving for the first performance, she wasn’t sure she was going to make it.  I hustled to her room to say it was time to go and found her sitting on her bed.  We prayed and asked God to give her strength and trusted that her adrenaline would kick in once she got into costume.  

God answered our prayers and Anna had plenty of energy to dance in three shows in two days.  She was definitely exhausted afterward but had the strength to persevere and finish strong.  We were so impressed with this production of Colorado Ballet Society.  It was extremely professional – from the sets, costumes, orchestra, and quality dancing.  The cast worked tirelessly for weeks and it really paid off.  

This was an experience for Anna that she’ll always remember.  When we signed the commitment in early September, accepting her role, she wasn’t sure if she was going to enjoy it.  Everything was unknown to us then and we didn’t know what to expect.  In the end, we told Anna that she would either love it or hate it.  We knew which it would be but it took her experiencing it to decide for herself.  She loved every minute of performing and immediately said she wants to do it again this year.