Youmans: Classic ballet takes on a twist

Up-and-coming Newport Beach tween Rachel Bryant will live a dream as she dances the role of Little Clara in Maple Youth Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker.”

A student at the Maple Conservatory who attends the Pegasus School in Huntington Beach, Rachel, 12, will appear in the Maple Ballet production from Dec. 17 through Dec. 22 at the Northwood Performing Arts Theatre in Irvine. This is her fourth time appearing in “The Nutcracker,” but her first in the high-profile role of Little Clara.

“It’s kind of a new role and I’ve never been able to do it before, so I’m kind of excited about that,” Rachel said in a phone interview.

There have been hundreds of interpretations of “The Nutcracker” over the years. Following suit, director and choreographer Charles Maple has developed his own original concept.

“In our ‘Nutcracker,’ Clara dreams that she becomes a ballerina,” Maple said in a phone interview.

“You see a lot of ‘Nutcrackers’ and who is Clara?” he said. “She’s a little girl and she ends up going to the land of sweets and she eats candy. In my version, she is actually a young girl who dreams of becoming a dancer. There it is. That is Rachel. Rachel dreams of becoming a dancer.”

The story takes a unique twist when young Clara is presented with her first pair of pointe shoes by renowned ballet master and magician, Herr Drosselmeyer, a fictitious character Maple plays in Rachel’s real life.

Maple, Rachel’s ballet teacher and mentor for five years, knows her dancing well. He has watched the young ballet dancer move up from the primary levels into more advanced technique classes, and now pointe. As a result, Maple can attest to her growing abilities and promise.

“When you see her she is a very intelligent young lady, first of all,” Maple said. “She has this incredible dramatic ability that just pops out of nowhere. You wouldn’t know it if you just met her. But, when she starts dancing, it’s pretty vivid, pretty amazing. This is actually her life, to become a dancer, and she’s easily pleased us all. It’s going to be great to watch.”

The Maple production utilizes three Claras. Through the course of the production, audiences watch an 8-year-old Clara grow into a woman, and then a grandmother, who then reflects on her career as a prima ballerina. Eventually, dancers in Rachel’s position go through the conservatory and often graduate to these older roles.

“It all depends on how hard she works and what her dreams are,” Maple said. “I think that she can certainly dance. She just has a tremendous enthusiasm and tremendous fire to dance. And so it really depends on how much time and energy she ends up putting into it. She’s just a wonderful student and a wonderful person.”

Rachel is just in the beginning stages of her journey as a ballet dancer and is still contemplating taking on a ballet dancing career for life.

“I’m not sure yet right now,” Rachel said. “I have a lot of fun with it, but I’m not sure how long I’m going to want to do it.”

Off stage, Rachel is a bubbly preteen who enjoys spending time with her friends. At the Pegasus School, she along with other seven other students were recently honored by Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth for scoring well on advanced exams.

Hopefully, with a good head on her shoulders and some hard work, her passion for ballet dancing could possibly grow into something more than a hobby, all in due time of course.

HEATHER YOUMANS reviews arts events for the Daily Pilot.

If You Go

What: The Maple Youth Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker”

Where: Northwood Performing Arts Theatre, 4515 Portola Pkwy., Irvine

When: From Dec. 17 through Dec. 22

More information: For tickets and show times, call 1-888-71-TICKETS, or go to https://www.showclix.com/event/mapleyouthballet