On Pointe (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 5 - Stepping Up - full transcript
Younger dancers prepare for dress rehearsals. An older student receives a surprising announcement.
(CAR HORN HONKING)
Eight, and one...
When you see yourself in the mirror,
really look at yourself.
Relevé, down. Two, up you go!
Sometimes the students are working so hard
and they're staring in that mirror,
and they forget this is also theater.
-ARCH: Counting out loud.
-RUBY: And that's what kept me in ballet
when I was really little.
I get to be in Nutcracker.
Oh, I get to perform!
And I get to give something
to all these people.
It's not just me in class doing tendus.
LAUREN: That's good.
Nice!
ARCH: Okay, Brandon, keep your weight more
on the first two,
so we're not putting any
weight on that baby toe.
KAI: You don't have a mirror always,
you just have to look out and have trust
-in your body.
-ARCH: Plié front, the arm goes back.
KAI: You have to be able to do
that onstage, too.
(ARCH SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
First group to the right.
TAELA: Just being onstage, I love it.
It's hard to grasp at first.
You just have to like, let yourself feel
the music sometimes
and develop it on your own.
Lecture demonstrations are coming up,
and I'm very excited... (CHUCKLES)
...for that.
These performances are done for, like,
different schools in New York.
It is the first opportunity I have had
to perform, like...
a solo.
It can always be hard going
into a classroom
with all these amazing people.
Focusing on, "Am I good enough?"
You still have to, like, keep up
your own confidence and still, like,
believe in yourself at the same time.
KATRINA: One, two, three...
TAELA: Having rehearsals after class,
Agon instantly, you know,
it just like became, like,
my favorite variation to do.
-KATRINA: ...five, six.
-TAELA: It's very broken.
You would have a count of four and then it
would change to six,
and then it would just go like,
all these different places.
So, you have to be stepping right
on the music.
If you don't, it'll, like, mess up all
the rest of the counts.
KATRINA: ...three, two, two, three.
TAELA: But it kind of clicks at some point
and, like, you know when to go.
KATRINA: Stay.
(TAELA COUGHING)
You tell me, were you on time? Second five
over there, I got nervous.
-Over, this one?
-Right? Yes. That's right.
-One, two, three, four, five.
-TAELA: It's very exciting to actually
have the opportunity to perform in front
of children,
and, like, be able to inspire other kids
to start to dance as well.
KATRINA: ...five, One, two. (CLAPPING)
Good. One and two and extra down.
-One and two and extra down.
-DOMINIKA: Lecture demonstrations
are where we demonstrate
the Balanchine technique
-all over New York.
-KATRINA: And a back.
DOMINIKA: Rehearsals are always
so much fun.
You get to do so many different things
you've never done before.
KATRINA: It's a left, six, seven.
Continue, point, point.
DOMINIKA: We rehearsed Union Jack
for about only five rehearsals.
But that's what it is like
in a professional setting.
We have to learn very quickly and stay
on top of it.
KATRINA: ...back, back, back, back.
And a hup, two. Yes.
It's impressive, this is our second...
this is our third rehearsal, right?
It's very different for me, because I
didn't grow up doing jazz or tap.
-KATRINA: The fouetté's accent up or down?
-Down.
KATRINA: Down, so that's the only time
you do your wet foot.
Yeah, can I see that? Do your little skips
going back to that, please.
DOMINIKA: I'm usually just very focused,
-trying to remember the counts...
-KATRINA: Nice.
...and the choreography, and trying
to get everything right.
As last year, Balanchine was such
a different technique
that I wasn't used to it.
But I think now that I have a hang of it,
I'm just trying to be very consistent
and strong, and just keep enjoying
this art form.
JONATHAN: And even though
this is a little tricky transition,
le... your leg should be up to the side.
Full développé.
That's it.
Good.
KAY: Jon Stafford, the director
of New York City Ballet,
he knows the students.
He's come, he's taught, he's watched them.
JONATHAN: I feel like Ruby,
you were just very straight in your back,
if you could just get a little bit
of arch...
it would actually feel a little nicer.
My priority as artistic director
of the company is to really be looking
to see who really has what I think
it takes to get into the company.
It's important to really know the students
as well as possible,
so that we can make
the most informed choice.
Uh, you sort of have, like, a gut feeling
that this is gonna work.
All the kids here are so talented
and we're splitting hairs
when we're making choices who gets
into the company each year.
An apprenticeship, it's life-changing!
(CHUCKLES)
JONATHAN: Thank you very much, everybody!
Very good work.
-(APPLAUDING)
-FEMALE STUDENT: Thank you.
ALLEN: They're still considered students,
it's a marriage between the school
and the company,
where now they will be performing,
rehearsing, and seeing what that life is
at the company, while still trying
to take classes here.
-KAY: Morning, ladies.
-ALLEN: They're under both houses
-at that time.
-Hello.
Hi.
Okay. We have some news for you.
Mr. Stafford would... like you two
to be apprentices.
(LAUGHING) Yes, in June.
Until June, you're gonna be here working
like you always have worked,
and working well.
(LAUGHING) You should go
and call your mom and dad,
and tell them. And you can tell
all your friends.
-(SOBS)
-KAY: I know.
Oh. I know, I know, it's so exciting,
it's so exciting for you guys.
It's so exciting.
-It's so exciting.
-ROMMIE: Thank you. I'm so happy.
-KAY: Congratulations, congratulations.
-ALLEN: Congratulations, Ruby.
(TELEPHONE LINE RINGING)
-RUBY: Hey, Daddy.
-JASON: Hey.
I have... some news.
-(BREATHES DEEPLY) Um... class...
-JASON:
(LAUGHS) Class just ended, um...
(SNIFFLES)
...and Kay told me that I got
my apprenticeship
with New York City Ballet.
-JASON:
-Yeah. (SNIFFLES)
-I'm gonna...
-JASON: Congratulations!
(LAUGHS) Thank you! Um,
-I'm gonna...
-JASON: Oh, my goodness!
-(LAUGHS)
-JASON: Are you serious?
-(LAUGHS) Yeah.
-(TELEPHONE LINE RINGING)
ELISE:
Yes, everything's okay. I just got my
apprenticeship with New York City Ballet.
-ELISE: Oh, my gosh.
-(SOBS)
-(ELISE SOBBING)
-(LAUGHS, SNIFFLES)
-(ELISE SNIFFING)
-I'm still in shock.
-ELISE:
-(SNIFFLES) Yeah, I'm like shaking.
(SNIFFLES, BREATHES DEEPLY)
-(ELISE LAUGHING)
-(LAUGHS)
(BREATHES DEEPLY, LAUGHS) Okay.
-(SNIFFING) I love you.
-ELISE: (CHUCKLING) I love you, too.
Being here, there's just
so many talented dancers
and the fact that they chose me is...
unreal. (SNIFFS) I'm so honored.
And I'm so excited. (SNIFFS)
And... (STUTTERS) ...there's a lot
of feelings.
It's just... (BREATHES DEEPLY)
...I'm speechless, honestly.
"Dear Sam, I just wanted to remind you
how much I love you,
"and are so proud of you for following
your dreams,
"and trying to be true to yourself."
My mom sent me a really long letter.
That was really sweet of her.
If she took that much time to write all
of this, then she must've really cared.
-I had still have to wear a walking boot.
-(BELL CHIMING)
SAM: For the past eight or so weeks,
I haven't been doing any dance at all.
I'm not exactly sure when I'll be back.
That makes me feel like I'm really
far behind,
but I've been working really hard
to... to do anything I can outside
of actually dancing to try to keep up.
DIRK: Come on back. Did you just come
from class?
SAM: I've been doing physical therapy
twice a week.
DIRK: So, all of barre feels good,
you're finishing up to...
SAM: Up to center, but I just don't do,
like,
all the way turned out.
In their training and in their technique
and in choreography
they use their whole body.
Their feet can be considered
their instrument,
so injuring their foot or ankle can put
them out of, potentially, their career.
See how on this side...
your heel is swooping in?
And when we get to the top of relevé,
we really wanna see that that heel
is coming in like it is right now.
SAM: Mm-hmm.
Even before my injury, I had sort
of weak turnout muscles.
And after the injury, they're, like,
even weaker.
-So, I have to build them back up.
-DIRK: So, let's go up to relevé.
-Picking up the heels, yeah.
-There is a psychological component...
-DIRK: Keep going.
-...helping them understand
how they're gonna get back to dancing
is really important.
-Feel any different?
-It's a lot harder.
(BOTH LAUGH)
DIRK: And it may not be a quick journey
or an easy journey...
-DIRK: And rest.
-...but Sam is gonna be able to get back
to dancing.
-Good work today.
-SAM: Thanks.
-Yes, see you next time?
-SAM: Yeah.
-Which I guess is tomorrow? Good.
-Yeah. (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
JULIE: Before Gabbie joined the cast,
we used to go out
to the eastern end of Long Island,
and cut a tree down,
and it was a full-day... event.
-I'll take the mice.
-JULIE: The mice.
JULIE: We can't be that far
from the theater now.
So, we've... now get our tree very locally
and we get it usually without her.
And then, we wait for her day off
to decorate it all together.
-GABBIE'S BROTHER: Dad, high five.
-(JOE SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
-Another Nutcracker?
-Yup.
-JOE: Yeah, fist bump.
-JULIE: Nutcracker's been great
for Gabrielle, but also for our family.
It's made Christmas kind of special,
and... we cherish our family time more...
because it's definitely less.
GABBIE: My family, they've made
a lot of sacrifices.
My mom, she's missed a lot
of my brother's soccer games.
My dad, he's missed some work,
because he has to take me
into the city when Maria can't.
-MARIA: Are we ready?
-GABBIE: Yeah.
Maria is my babysitter,
and I love her.
I want to thank her for just taking me
through for, like, two years.
-JULIE: (SMOOCHING) I love you.
-GABBIE: I love you.
-JULIE: Have a good dance.
-GABBIE: Okay.
JULIE: See you later.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(RAFAELA SPEAKING SPANISH)
(LAUGHS)
(RAFAELA LAUGHING)
LUIS: Raise your hand. (SPEAKS SPANISH)
-(SPEAKS SPANISH)
-LUIS: Uh-huh.
-(SPEAKS SPANISH)
-(SPEAKS SPANISH)
-ISABELA: Mm-hmm.
-(SPEAKS SPANISH)
-(ANGELICA LAUGHS)
-ISABELA: Mm-hmm.
(ALL LAUGHING)
-(SPEAKS SPANISH)
-LUIS: Mm-hmm.
RAFAELA: Oh, Isabel.
(LUIS LAUGHING)
LUIS: (SPEAKING SPANISH)
-Oh!
-(CHUCKLES)
-(SPEAKS SPANISH)
-LUIS: Mm-hmm.
(ANGELICA SPEAKING SPANISH)
-ANGELICA: Mmm. (SPEAKS SPANISH)
-(LUIS SPEAKING SPANISH)
-ANGELICA: Wow!
-LUIS: Whoa!
-(LUIS SPEAKING SPANISH)
-(ISABELA AND ANGELICA SPEAKING SPANISH)
(ISABELA AND LUIS TALKING IN SPANISH)
(SPEAKS SPANISH)
(ISABELA AND ANGELICA SPEAKING SPANISH)
(SPEAKS SPANISH)
(ANGELICA SPEAKING SPANISH)
(SPEAKS SPANISH)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Next stop is Lincoln Center.
FEMALE STUDENTS:
Fifty-three, 53, 54, 55. 56...
-MALE VOICE: This is the check-in.
-...fifty-seven, 58, 59...
-sixty!
-(ALL CHEERING)
-MALE VOICE: (LAUGHING) All right.
-Run!
FEMALE STUDENT 1:
Give it. Come on, come on.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-FEMALE STUDENT 2: You're slow.
-FEMALE STUDENT 3: You're so slow!
(FEMALE STUDENTS LAUGHING)
Uh, are there any Angels missing?
Look around.
ISABELA: The dress rehearsal
is a rehearsal
where we get to do it with our costumes.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Hey, everybody! Number one question,
is everyone here?
-FEMALE STUDENT 1: I think so.
-DENA: Excellent.
-MALE VOICE: All right.
-DENA: We are at our first, on-stage,
in-costume rehearsal,
and this is a very, very exciting time
-for the kids and for me.
-All right, ready?
DENA: We're finally gonna be putting
it all together like the real thing.
Ladies, when we change onstage
it has to be fast,
so you have to remember
who you're sharing with.
FEMALE VOICE 1: Listen carefully,
green cast.
She's gonna call out the name
of the person who matches your costume.
FEMALE VOICE 2: Isabela?
You share with Anna.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
ANGELICA: Wow.
-What beautiful shoes!
-(LAUGHS)
DENA: So, Angels, all come with me.
AVA: The stage at Lincoln Center
is amazing,
'cause it's so cool how they have, like,
all the orchestra seats,
and it's like a professional theater.
There's this ginormous light
that's super pretty.
It's like a ball
and it's like diamond lights.
ELLA: When I was little and I was obsessed
with The Nutcracker,
it was like a ritual, we'd go every year.
When I was an angel, the first time
I stepped on that stage I was like,
"Oh, my God, like, thi... I've watched
this show a million times
"and now I'm in the show," and so,
that was awesome to me.
DENA: So girls, you don't want it
to be too low on your forehead...
okay? So that it... We don't want it
to cover your face.
We're starting with the Angels.
It's the first time they
all have their skirts on.
It'll be the first time
they have the scenery,
the first time they have wings.
So, it's a lot to take in.
I really like my costume, because it makes
you feel like you're floating.
-GEORGINA: Are you guys excited?
-Yeah.
-Yeah? This is a super fun time...
-FEMALE STUDENT: Yeah. I'm also nervous.
-Oh, don't be nervous.
-FEMALE STUDENT: I'm a coffee...
This is what you practiced for.
FEMALE STUDENT: But there's going to be
thousand more people.
Listen, you don't need to think about
the thousands and thousands of people,
you just need to go out there
and be true to yourself.
-All right, merde guys!
-DENA: Angels onstage!
Hopefully, they'll glide...
-gently and beautifully across the stage.
-Please go to your "X" girls.
Let's hope it goes well!
(SOFT PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
-(THUDDING)
-(GASPS)
DENA: (CLAPPING) Okay, it's okay.
If you go too, like, close you're gonna
step on someone's dress,
-and then they're gonna fall.
-(SOFT PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
(ANGELICA SPEAKING SPANISH)
(SPEAKS SPANISH) Oh.
-(CHUCKLES)
-(PEOPLE APPLAUDING)
JACQUELINE: These bells, they make
a lot of noise
so while they're getting dressed,
they're jumping all over the place.
Imagine having eight of these guys just...
(BELLS JINGLING)
Yeah. (LAUGHS)
GABBIE: The dressers have to use,
apparently, the same bells every year.
And they don't make them,
because they were made in the 50s.
And it makes you feel like, "Wow.
"Maybe a dancer, like a really
famous dancer, could've danced in this."
-(BELLS JINGLING)
-DANIEL: That’s fine.
You can never sneak up on anyone,
because they can hear you coming. (LAUGHS)
I've danced the role of Candy Cane
for close to 20 years now.
Balanchine's idea of having everyone
dance...
he was way ahead of his time.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
DANIEL: These kids never forget
their experience.
They collect the bells, you know,
that fall off.
I mean, it's like a tradition for them.
And... um, to be able to share the stage
with them as long
as I've been doing this, it's an honor.
You want to be someone they want
to aspire to be.
-(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
-(BELS JINGLING)
DENA: Good. Run Charlotte. Just 12, girls.
GABBIE: Well, you're nervous.
You realize, "Wow, this costume
is really heavy."
Because there's like a hundred bells
on that thing.
And then, you're like, "Oh,
"I'm actually dancing with this guy,
on this stage, with this scenery."
-It's all, like, surreal.
-(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
GABBIE: This is gonna
be my last Nutcracker.
I wanna get my turns perfect.
They're pretty good,
but they're not the best.
-So, I wanna get them perfect.
-(PIANO MUSIC CONTINUES)
DENA: Okay.
That was good, it really was, okay?
The only part that I was concerned
about is after swing,
as you're going back...
watch the line every time you look
to the side.
We need a prince.
Isabela, do we know where the prince is?
Oh, thank God! Here he is!
The prince has arrived.
(ALL APPLAUDING)
(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
KAI: It feels exciting because I've done
a lot of rehearsals,
and I've come this far.
I think I can just keep calm for this role
and just do the steps and have fun.
DENA: Really sway. Play your instrument,
honey.
KAI: It's been a new experience.
I was a soldier the first year.
Then I was party scene,
and now I really felt like I could bring
my own thing to it.
DENA: Well, there was a part
where you still needed to go
-to her, you saw that?
-KAI: Mm-hmm.
-Still a little bit bigger for everything.
-Yeah.
-Um... and the eyes...
-KAI: Mm-hmm.
-...that was still to the side, so...
-Here.
...here, here, don't slap your face.
I think this says a lot about Kai,
that he gets more stressed
when he falls behind on homework
than he seems to get stressed being
-on the stage at Lincoln Center.
-(CHUCKLES)
DENA: Ready? And...
STEVE: Sophia has... has always been
very focused.
She's drawn to ballet
because it is so precise,
and requires so much discipline.
KELLY: We just really want Sophia to be
in the moment.
I found myself telling Sophia, there
are moments you feel really stressed out,
but you have to take a deep breath
and really soak this all in,
and enjoy it because this is a privilege
and an experience that...
most people who even go
on to be professional dancers
in other companies, never get to dance
on the stage at Lincoln Center.
SOPHIA: When I was sitting
in that throne,
the sweets come to life and dance for us.
I love watching the ballet,
so I kind of saw it as a free seat
to the ballet and to get to see
all my favorite dancers on the stage.
DENA: Okay, girls, get in your lineup
in your order.
Okay, and remember what we talked
about yesterday,
about being really tight,
watch for his walks,
both on the way in and on the way out.
(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
-(GIRLS EXCLAIMING)
-(DENA GASPING)
Wait, what's happened under
there?
With Mother Ginger, there's been
a few incidents
where sometimes you accidentally
get your foot caught.
ELLA: They couldn’t move more over
and I think I...
like, hit him a little bit.
ELLA: It's really hard for the principal,
'cause they can't see...
-Sorry.
-...below their feet.
-DENA: Okay. You guys were okay?
-Yeah, I'm okay, it felt like someone...
-DENA: Pushed? Yeah.
-...like stopped.
Okay, take a deep, go to the side,
we're gonna try it again.
Okay. We have to be able to do this.
Just think of doing it exactly
like we did in the studio,
just slightly bigger steps so you can get
to the center.
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-(APPLAUDING)
I have so much respect for Ms. Abergel
and Mr. Higgins,
and the work that they do because I mean,
that is a lot of kids,
-it is a lot of choreography.
-(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
JACK: And it really takes
so much hard work.
And not only just the kids, but the people
behind the scenes.
Seeing your child be a part of it
is just as valuable
as the performing part...
because you're working with... people
that are at the top of their game.
-JANIE: (LAUGHING) Molly...
-ELLA: Oh, hello!
This is Molly's.
Um, I don't really know
which one is my parents'.
This one we say is mine just
because... it's different.
Our tree is very personal, too.
Um, there's pictures of me what like,
through the years of school.
JANIE: Ella, actually, from the time
she was little, was making ornaments...
-Oh, yeah.
-...at her school. And she would
always make little dancers,
so there's one.
I made this in first grade.
Oh, almost dropped it.
There's always a little bit of a spike
in everybody running around
before the holidays, because it's just
that you're trying to get ready.
So, we need to put one can of these
on each of these and try to cover all
of it.
All right, so remember, try to go slow,
so it doesn't all pour out at once.
Yeah, that's good, really good.
Sometimes I just forget how much
she's doing
because she just makes it seem
so easy.
-(BLOWS RASPBERRIES) Wait, hold on.
-(JANIE LAUGHING)
JACK: Between getting her schoolwork
done and doing these rehearsals
and just all this responsibility
that she has. So, I'm just very impressed.
(CHUCKLES)
-Okay, just...
-Like, now just pull it out and in,
-and then, like, do this.
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-MALE VOICE: You need some help? (LAUGHS)
-No, it's fine.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-Looks like you're ready to go to a party.
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-(GASPS)
-We... No, we ...No, we start jumping
-when they hug.
-Boys are loud.
JACQUELINE: Yes.
SOPHIA: Today, we have
Act One dress rehearsal.
Tomorrow we have Act Two dress
rehearsal,
and then we have the, oh... oh, wait,
no, tomorrow is Thanksgiving.
(LAUGHS) And then, the next day
we have Opening Night.
I go like this, and then they say...
(GASPS)
-..."I have an idea, let's play..."
-MALE STUDENT 1: Yeah.
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-MALE STUDENT 1: Yay.
-I'm actually nervous.
-MALE STUDENT 2: I know.
Okay, you're good.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-(CHEERS) Bye! Bye!
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
BRANDON:
The stage, we're going on the stage.
(BELL CHIMING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
BRANDON: So, in the opening I'm sleeping
on Marie.
It was kind of weird at first,
'cause you're sleeping on the floor
in front of a big audience... (CHUCKLES)
...and usually you don't sleep on people.
Uh, in front of a big audience,
let alone sleep. (CHUCKLING)
And you have to stay alert.
You can't wake up
without her tapping you.
So it really revolves around the music
that beginning scene.
(PIANO MUSIC CONTINUES)
BRANDON: As Fritz, you're angry at Marie,
because she gets she gets everything
and... (CHUCKLES) ...you don't.
-DENA: Move to the center, kids.
-BRANDON: I think that I've gotten better
at my role being this obnoxious,
spoiled person.
DENA: (CLAPPING) Sorry, sorry.
We're just gonna try that one more time.
-You're not on this side for so long.
-It seems kind of far away.
Well, Marie gets into a lot of fights
with her brother.
(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
SOPHIA: Me and my sister,
we don't argue that much,
and we're not that rough with each other,
but I can relate to the sibling aspect.
(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
FEMALE DRESSER: Don't touch heads.
Don't touch heads.
-JACQUELINE: Who's eight?
-ELLA: I'm not. Olivia, you're eight.
-Ladies, we just did this earlier.
-OLIVIA: I'm six.
-FEMALE STUDENT: I'm five.
-No, I'm six.
-Okay, just got it. just... just...
-ELLA: I thought you were four?
-OLIVIA: I'm number ten.
-FEMALE STUDENT: You were four.
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-ELLA: Is anyone three?
-FEMALE STUDENT 1: I think I'm seven.
-FEMALE STUDENT 2: I'm three.
FEMALE STUDENT: Merde.
-Merde. Merde.
-IUSASET: Okay, this is not...
-FEMALE STUDENT: Merde.
-Hello.
-FEMALE STUDENT: Merde.
-MALE STUDENT: Who's that?
It's your father, come on.
The mice have to wear
a really big head, big body.
Ladies, I need you to focus.
The next person should be putting
their head on,
and getting back in line.
Lift your belly up,
your head should be on.
ELLA: My head is on,
see it's right there.
-Girl, bye.
-(ELLA CHUCKLING)
OLIVIA: The big head is really heavy
and most of the time
it doesn't even fit your head.
It either goes down or it's up
and it's all around.
FEMALE STUDENT: Do we take our tails out?
You don't take your tails out
until you're in the wings,
right before you run onto stage,
because you don't wanna trip on it
and there are people walking around
backstage.
Don't trip on them, hold your tails.
Hold your tails.
Go ahead, belly up, out the way.
FEMALE VOICE: When you're in the wing,
take your tail out.
(SIGHS)
(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
SOPHIA: It really felt like a real show,
scenery changing and all the costumes.
The tree is growing,
and then the nutcracker grows, too.
KAI: The Prince starts off
in the party scene,
and then he meets Marie. And while Marie
has the whole violin thing and like,
the tree growing, he turns
into the nutcracker.
And he comes and does the battle scene
as the nutcracker.
For the battle scene, since I did it
once as a soldier,
I think I might be more used to it
since it's chaotic.
(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
DENA: Though it's always different
when it's all put together.
Especially in the battle scene.
Part of it is teaching them that they have
to be spontaneous.
They get like, "But what do I do?
You told me this,
"and Mr. Higgins said stay in this line."
Run fast, little mice. Fast, fast, fast,
go.
I feel like in the battle scene,
Marie is curious and scared
at the same time 'cause she'll... hide,
and then kind of come back out
wanting to know what happened.
And then, she throws her shoe
at the mouse.
And then, I'm not sure if she actually
goes to sleep,
but she faints on to the bed.
DENA: Really touch his costume,
he can't feel it. Hold on. (CLAPPING)
-Okay, you okay?
-KAI: Yeah. It's just I can't see and...
this is really heavy and the lights make
it hard to...
DENA: (CHUCKLING) I know it's a lot,
you're gonna be fine.
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-(SOFT PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
SOPHIA: My favorite part
was riding the bed...
because my eyes are closed and you kind
of just feel, like, this wind...
as you turn around, and then all
of a sudden I hear
this, like, raining sound,
and it's the snow that's falling.
And I feel it all hit my face.
It felt so magical.
(ORCHESTRAL MUSIC PLAYING)
ZOE: For The Nutcracker, the apprentices
usually are maids or sometimes they
also do snowflake scene
or hot chocolate,
-which is in the second act.
-(DANCE MUSIC PLAYING)
It just makes me happy...
when you're right on the music
and it's just working,
and you're up there,
it just feels like you're on air.
It's like you're not even thinking
about it and it's just, it's so perfect.
ELLA: We've gotten used to having company
members there,
and if something goes wrong, it's okay.
There's the people you admire,
like the soloists in the company,
the people you look up to and want
to be like when you're older.
So, getting to dance with them is great.
GABBIE: I was actually doing
a turn backstage,
and Daniel Ulbricht was like, "Good job!"
And he fist-bumped me.
DENA: The Nutcracker has been going
on for...
well, over 60 years. And what makes
it really fresh are the children.
And of course, and all of the major roles,
and all of the minor roles.
Everything is important.
But it's truly the children
and the constantly changing children.
Because... the company members watch
them grow from Angels.
Sometimes to Marie, and sometimes
to Hoops, and then a couple years later,
-become part of the company.
-(ORCHESTRAL MUSIC PLAYING)
DENA: It's a beautiful progression,
and for me,
going to the School of American Ballet,
dancing with New York City Ballet,
and coming back to be a teacher...
that whole full-circle thing,
it's tremendously rewarding.
DENA: Careful.
Okay. It's good. You did a great job.
I am supposed to be teaching at SAB
now, so...
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-DENA: Thanks!
Happy Thanksgiving!
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
ELIAS: Hey.
I'm from California and it's never snowed
where I've lived before. So, just, like...
looking out the windows at SAB,
and just seeing the snowfall,
and... and it's so exciting.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
ELIAS: And then, I force my friends
to go and play in it with me.
A lot of them are from Colorado
and they're like, "This is so stupid,"
-but I'm, like, so excited.
-(BELL CHIMING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Okay.
Winter hasn't been
that bad this year,
it hasn't snowed that much, but I'm gonna
be going home for a little bit.
And... I'm excited for the warm weather.
(LAUGHS)
(RUBY LAUGHING)
RUBY: Okay, I have to text Mom. (LAUGHING)
Look, they sent me a picture
of all of them
on the couch frowning. (LAUGHING)
'Cause I'm not home yet. We're on our way.
The fact that I live in Lincoln Center...
(CHUCKLING) ...where these people from all
over the country...
come because they're at the top
of their field.
Yeah. (CHUCKLES)
Very lucky.
But Seattle, it's always been my home.
-(GASPING) Oh, my gosh, Charlie!
-(JASON TALKING INDISTINCTLY)
(LAUGHS) He has a balloon!
I'm very close with my siblings.
They are probably the people
that know me best.
(RUBY KISSING) Muah!
When we were all younger, we spent all
of our time together.
Hi, Mommy! (CHUCKLING)
-ELISE: You like the llama?
-RUBY: I love the llama. (LAUGHING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-I almost got a taco. (LAUGHS)
-(RUBY LAUGHING)
-RUBY: Hugs, hugs, hugs, hugs, hugs.
-ENDRE: Hi.
Aven gets hugs hugged first
because she's the small one.
-ENDRE: Hi.
-RUBY: Hey, Endre.
Endre was 13 when I left and his voice
has dropped,
he's... now he's taller than me!
-RUBY: Is it a kids cook tonight?
-ENDRE: Yes.
-No.
-(RUBY LAUGHING)
RUBY: The hardest part about moving,
I felt like I was missing out
on them growing up.
-We'll tag team it. Okay.
-ENDRE: Finally, back.
I did miss my siblings, but my parents
I missed more than anything.
ELISE: Yeah, we took her
to Stowell/Sendak's Nutcracker,
and she just was going insane
the whole first half.
-Dancing in the womb, basically.
-(RUBY LAUGHING)
-RUBY: When I was in your stomach?
-Yes. But you were in...
Yes. And you were... going crazy.
Ruby just kinda always...
I don't remember ever not
viewing her as a dancer.
I think she's somewhat of an anomaly,
most people don't really have this passion
that they can really identify,
something that they really
are talented at,
and love and want to sacrifice for,
so young.
-(VOCALIZING)
-(ALL LAUGHING)
I never did Angels,
but I was a small servant,
is what they called it,
and I had a little lantern,
and I walked around the stage.
Ruby's always had a really strong...
connection with her own voice.
We never set up a dream,
and then tried to... get her on board.
She pushed herself.
She's made tons of sacrifices.
And then... (CHUCKLES) ...and then,
Ruby is now an apprentice.
JASON: What I'm most proud about Ruby
is just the kind of person she is...
um, how she treats people.
Okay. Don't look, don't show the kitty.
-(WHISPERS) It has a little tail!
-JASON: She just has a heart for people.
-RUBY: Just ate it, oh! (CHUCKLES)
-AVEN: Oh, he's eating it now.
-(CHUCKLES)
-So, uh, what are you doing this summer?
I'll probably stay in New York.
I can get like, a... apartment
with all the other apprentices
that are staying.
ELISE: (CHUCKLING) I'm freaking out
right now.
So they stay for the summer,
and then their apprenticeship
-starts in August?
-RUBY: Yes.
ELISE: New York, now is her home.
In some ways it's like,
"Oh, I thought I'd have 18 years
with her."
And I only got, you know, less.
But really, I don't feel robbed.
To know that you're raising them
to actually leave you. (LAUGHS)
And you're just like, it's such a...
privilege to have someone
you get to sacrifice for.
My heart is very stretched... from it.
-Yeah.
-(LAUGHS)
RUBY: My apprenticeship still
has not sunk in.
I just keep thinking about all the people
that have helped me get here,
and I'm like, "I have to...
"be brave for them and... push forward."
(LAUGHS)
Eight, and one...
When you see yourself in the mirror,
really look at yourself.
Relevé, down. Two, up you go!
Sometimes the students are working so hard
and they're staring in that mirror,
and they forget this is also theater.
-ARCH: Counting out loud.
-RUBY: And that's what kept me in ballet
when I was really little.
I get to be in Nutcracker.
Oh, I get to perform!
And I get to give something
to all these people.
It's not just me in class doing tendus.
LAUREN: That's good.
Nice!
ARCH: Okay, Brandon, keep your weight more
on the first two,
so we're not putting any
weight on that baby toe.
KAI: You don't have a mirror always,
you just have to look out and have trust
-in your body.
-ARCH: Plié front, the arm goes back.
KAI: You have to be able to do
that onstage, too.
(ARCH SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
First group to the right.
TAELA: Just being onstage, I love it.
It's hard to grasp at first.
You just have to like, let yourself feel
the music sometimes
and develop it on your own.
Lecture demonstrations are coming up,
and I'm very excited... (CHUCKLES)
...for that.
These performances are done for, like,
different schools in New York.
It is the first opportunity I have had
to perform, like...
a solo.
It can always be hard going
into a classroom
with all these amazing people.
Focusing on, "Am I good enough?"
You still have to, like, keep up
your own confidence and still, like,
believe in yourself at the same time.
KATRINA: One, two, three...
TAELA: Having rehearsals after class,
Agon instantly, you know,
it just like became, like,
my favorite variation to do.
-KATRINA: ...five, six.
-TAELA: It's very broken.
You would have a count of four and then it
would change to six,
and then it would just go like,
all these different places.
So, you have to be stepping right
on the music.
If you don't, it'll, like, mess up all
the rest of the counts.
KATRINA: ...three, two, two, three.
TAELA: But it kind of clicks at some point
and, like, you know when to go.
KATRINA: Stay.
(TAELA COUGHING)
You tell me, were you on time? Second five
over there, I got nervous.
-Over, this one?
-Right? Yes. That's right.
-One, two, three, four, five.
-TAELA: It's very exciting to actually
have the opportunity to perform in front
of children,
and, like, be able to inspire other kids
to start to dance as well.
KATRINA: ...five, One, two. (CLAPPING)
Good. One and two and extra down.
-One and two and extra down.
-DOMINIKA: Lecture demonstrations
are where we demonstrate
the Balanchine technique
-all over New York.
-KATRINA: And a back.
DOMINIKA: Rehearsals are always
so much fun.
You get to do so many different things
you've never done before.
KATRINA: It's a left, six, seven.
Continue, point, point.
DOMINIKA: We rehearsed Union Jack
for about only five rehearsals.
But that's what it is like
in a professional setting.
We have to learn very quickly and stay
on top of it.
KATRINA: ...back, back, back, back.
And a hup, two. Yes.
It's impressive, this is our second...
this is our third rehearsal, right?
It's very different for me, because I
didn't grow up doing jazz or tap.
-KATRINA: The fouetté's accent up or down?
-Down.
KATRINA: Down, so that's the only time
you do your wet foot.
Yeah, can I see that? Do your little skips
going back to that, please.
DOMINIKA: I'm usually just very focused,
-trying to remember the counts...
-KATRINA: Nice.
...and the choreography, and trying
to get everything right.
As last year, Balanchine was such
a different technique
that I wasn't used to it.
But I think now that I have a hang of it,
I'm just trying to be very consistent
and strong, and just keep enjoying
this art form.
JONATHAN: And even though
this is a little tricky transition,
le... your leg should be up to the side.
Full développé.
That's it.
Good.
KAY: Jon Stafford, the director
of New York City Ballet,
he knows the students.
He's come, he's taught, he's watched them.
JONATHAN: I feel like Ruby,
you were just very straight in your back,
if you could just get a little bit
of arch...
it would actually feel a little nicer.
My priority as artistic director
of the company is to really be looking
to see who really has what I think
it takes to get into the company.
It's important to really know the students
as well as possible,
so that we can make
the most informed choice.
Uh, you sort of have, like, a gut feeling
that this is gonna work.
All the kids here are so talented
and we're splitting hairs
when we're making choices who gets
into the company each year.
An apprenticeship, it's life-changing!
(CHUCKLES)
JONATHAN: Thank you very much, everybody!
Very good work.
-(APPLAUDING)
-FEMALE STUDENT: Thank you.
ALLEN: They're still considered students,
it's a marriage between the school
and the company,
where now they will be performing,
rehearsing, and seeing what that life is
at the company, while still trying
to take classes here.
-KAY: Morning, ladies.
-ALLEN: They're under both houses
-at that time.
-Hello.
Hi.
Okay. We have some news for you.
Mr. Stafford would... like you two
to be apprentices.
(LAUGHING) Yes, in June.
Until June, you're gonna be here working
like you always have worked,
and working well.
(LAUGHING) You should go
and call your mom and dad,
and tell them. And you can tell
all your friends.
-(SOBS)
-KAY: I know.
Oh. I know, I know, it's so exciting,
it's so exciting for you guys.
It's so exciting.
-It's so exciting.
-ROMMIE: Thank you. I'm so happy.
-KAY: Congratulations, congratulations.
-ALLEN: Congratulations, Ruby.
(TELEPHONE LINE RINGING)
-RUBY: Hey, Daddy.
-JASON: Hey.
I have... some news.
-(BREATHES DEEPLY) Um... class...
-JASON:
(LAUGHS) Class just ended, um...
(SNIFFLES)
...and Kay told me that I got
my apprenticeship
with New York City Ballet.
-JASON:
-Yeah. (SNIFFLES)
-I'm gonna...
-JASON: Congratulations!
(LAUGHS) Thank you! Um,
-I'm gonna...
-JASON: Oh, my goodness!
-(LAUGHS)
-JASON: Are you serious?
-(LAUGHS) Yeah.
-(TELEPHONE LINE RINGING)
ELISE:
Yes, everything's okay. I just got my
apprenticeship with New York City Ballet.
-ELISE: Oh, my gosh.
-(SOBS)
-(ELISE SOBBING)
-(LAUGHS, SNIFFLES)
-(ELISE SNIFFING)
-I'm still in shock.
-ELISE:
-(SNIFFLES) Yeah, I'm like shaking.
(SNIFFLES, BREATHES DEEPLY)
-(ELISE LAUGHING)
-(LAUGHS)
(BREATHES DEEPLY, LAUGHS) Okay.
-(SNIFFING) I love you.
-ELISE: (CHUCKLING) I love you, too.
Being here, there's just
so many talented dancers
and the fact that they chose me is...
unreal. (SNIFFS) I'm so honored.
And I'm so excited. (SNIFFS)
And... (STUTTERS) ...there's a lot
of feelings.
It's just... (BREATHES DEEPLY)
...I'm speechless, honestly.
"Dear Sam, I just wanted to remind you
how much I love you,
"and are so proud of you for following
your dreams,
"and trying to be true to yourself."
My mom sent me a really long letter.
That was really sweet of her.
If she took that much time to write all
of this, then she must've really cared.
-I had still have to wear a walking boot.
-(BELL CHIMING)
SAM: For the past eight or so weeks,
I haven't been doing any dance at all.
I'm not exactly sure when I'll be back.
That makes me feel like I'm really
far behind,
but I've been working really hard
to... to do anything I can outside
of actually dancing to try to keep up.
DIRK: Come on back. Did you just come
from class?
SAM: I've been doing physical therapy
twice a week.
DIRK: So, all of barre feels good,
you're finishing up to...
SAM: Up to center, but I just don't do,
like,
all the way turned out.
In their training and in their technique
and in choreography
they use their whole body.
Their feet can be considered
their instrument,
so injuring their foot or ankle can put
them out of, potentially, their career.
See how on this side...
your heel is swooping in?
And when we get to the top of relevé,
we really wanna see that that heel
is coming in like it is right now.
SAM: Mm-hmm.
Even before my injury, I had sort
of weak turnout muscles.
And after the injury, they're, like,
even weaker.
-So, I have to build them back up.
-DIRK: So, let's go up to relevé.
-Picking up the heels, yeah.
-There is a psychological component...
-DIRK: Keep going.
-...helping them understand
how they're gonna get back to dancing
is really important.
-Feel any different?
-It's a lot harder.
(BOTH LAUGH)
DIRK: And it may not be a quick journey
or an easy journey...
-DIRK: And rest.
-...but Sam is gonna be able to get back
to dancing.
-Good work today.
-SAM: Thanks.
-Yes, see you next time?
-SAM: Yeah.
-Which I guess is tomorrow? Good.
-Yeah. (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
JULIE: Before Gabbie joined the cast,
we used to go out
to the eastern end of Long Island,
and cut a tree down,
and it was a full-day... event.
-I'll take the mice.
-JULIE: The mice.
JULIE: We can't be that far
from the theater now.
So, we've... now get our tree very locally
and we get it usually without her.
And then, we wait for her day off
to decorate it all together.
-GABBIE'S BROTHER: Dad, high five.
-(JOE SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
-Another Nutcracker?
-Yup.
-JOE: Yeah, fist bump.
-JULIE: Nutcracker's been great
for Gabrielle, but also for our family.
It's made Christmas kind of special,
and... we cherish our family time more...
because it's definitely less.
GABBIE: My family, they've made
a lot of sacrifices.
My mom, she's missed a lot
of my brother's soccer games.
My dad, he's missed some work,
because he has to take me
into the city when Maria can't.
-MARIA: Are we ready?
-GABBIE: Yeah.
Maria is my babysitter,
and I love her.
I want to thank her for just taking me
through for, like, two years.
-JULIE: (SMOOCHING) I love you.
-GABBIE: I love you.
-JULIE: Have a good dance.
-GABBIE: Okay.
JULIE: See you later.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(RAFAELA SPEAKING SPANISH)
(LAUGHS)
(RAFAELA LAUGHING)
LUIS: Raise your hand. (SPEAKS SPANISH)
-(SPEAKS SPANISH)
-LUIS: Uh-huh.
-(SPEAKS SPANISH)
-(SPEAKS SPANISH)
-ISABELA: Mm-hmm.
-(SPEAKS SPANISH)
-(ANGELICA LAUGHS)
-ISABELA: Mm-hmm.
(ALL LAUGHING)
-(SPEAKS SPANISH)
-LUIS: Mm-hmm.
RAFAELA: Oh, Isabel.
(LUIS LAUGHING)
LUIS: (SPEAKING SPANISH)
-Oh!
-(CHUCKLES)
-(SPEAKS SPANISH)
-LUIS: Mm-hmm.
(ANGELICA SPEAKING SPANISH)
-ANGELICA: Mmm. (SPEAKS SPANISH)
-(LUIS SPEAKING SPANISH)
-ANGELICA: Wow!
-LUIS: Whoa!
-(LUIS SPEAKING SPANISH)
-(ISABELA AND ANGELICA SPEAKING SPANISH)
(ISABELA AND LUIS TALKING IN SPANISH)
(SPEAKS SPANISH)
(ISABELA AND ANGELICA SPEAKING SPANISH)
(SPEAKS SPANISH)
(ANGELICA SPEAKING SPANISH)
(SPEAKS SPANISH)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Next stop is Lincoln Center.
FEMALE STUDENTS:
Fifty-three, 53, 54, 55. 56...
-MALE VOICE: This is the check-in.
-...fifty-seven, 58, 59...
-sixty!
-(ALL CHEERING)
-MALE VOICE: (LAUGHING) All right.
-Run!
FEMALE STUDENT 1:
Give it. Come on, come on.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-FEMALE STUDENT 2: You're slow.
-FEMALE STUDENT 3: You're so slow!
(FEMALE STUDENTS LAUGHING)
Uh, are there any Angels missing?
Look around.
ISABELA: The dress rehearsal
is a rehearsal
where we get to do it with our costumes.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Hey, everybody! Number one question,
is everyone here?
-FEMALE STUDENT 1: I think so.
-DENA: Excellent.
-MALE VOICE: All right.
-DENA: We are at our first, on-stage,
in-costume rehearsal,
and this is a very, very exciting time
-for the kids and for me.
-All right, ready?
DENA: We're finally gonna be putting
it all together like the real thing.
Ladies, when we change onstage
it has to be fast,
so you have to remember
who you're sharing with.
FEMALE VOICE 1: Listen carefully,
green cast.
She's gonna call out the name
of the person who matches your costume.
FEMALE VOICE 2: Isabela?
You share with Anna.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
ANGELICA: Wow.
-What beautiful shoes!
-(LAUGHS)
DENA: So, Angels, all come with me.
AVA: The stage at Lincoln Center
is amazing,
'cause it's so cool how they have, like,
all the orchestra seats,
and it's like a professional theater.
There's this ginormous light
that's super pretty.
It's like a ball
and it's like diamond lights.
ELLA: When I was little and I was obsessed
with The Nutcracker,
it was like a ritual, we'd go every year.
When I was an angel, the first time
I stepped on that stage I was like,
"Oh, my God, like, thi... I've watched
this show a million times
"and now I'm in the show," and so,
that was awesome to me.
DENA: So girls, you don't want it
to be too low on your forehead...
okay? So that it... We don't want it
to cover your face.
We're starting with the Angels.
It's the first time they
all have their skirts on.
It'll be the first time
they have the scenery,
the first time they have wings.
So, it's a lot to take in.
I really like my costume, because it makes
you feel like you're floating.
-GEORGINA: Are you guys excited?
-Yeah.
-Yeah? This is a super fun time...
-FEMALE STUDENT: Yeah. I'm also nervous.
-Oh, don't be nervous.
-FEMALE STUDENT: I'm a coffee...
This is what you practiced for.
FEMALE STUDENT: But there's going to be
thousand more people.
Listen, you don't need to think about
the thousands and thousands of people,
you just need to go out there
and be true to yourself.
-All right, merde guys!
-DENA: Angels onstage!
Hopefully, they'll glide...
-gently and beautifully across the stage.
-Please go to your "X" girls.
Let's hope it goes well!
(SOFT PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
-(THUDDING)
-(GASPS)
DENA: (CLAPPING) Okay, it's okay.
If you go too, like, close you're gonna
step on someone's dress,
-and then they're gonna fall.
-(SOFT PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
(ANGELICA SPEAKING SPANISH)
(SPEAKS SPANISH) Oh.
-(CHUCKLES)
-(PEOPLE APPLAUDING)
JACQUELINE: These bells, they make
a lot of noise
so while they're getting dressed,
they're jumping all over the place.
Imagine having eight of these guys just...
(BELLS JINGLING)
Yeah. (LAUGHS)
GABBIE: The dressers have to use,
apparently, the same bells every year.
And they don't make them,
because they were made in the 50s.
And it makes you feel like, "Wow.
"Maybe a dancer, like a really
famous dancer, could've danced in this."
-(BELLS JINGLING)
-DANIEL: That’s fine.
You can never sneak up on anyone,
because they can hear you coming. (LAUGHS)
I've danced the role of Candy Cane
for close to 20 years now.
Balanchine's idea of having everyone
dance...
he was way ahead of his time.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
DANIEL: These kids never forget
their experience.
They collect the bells, you know,
that fall off.
I mean, it's like a tradition for them.
And... um, to be able to share the stage
with them as long
as I've been doing this, it's an honor.
You want to be someone they want
to aspire to be.
-(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
-(BELS JINGLING)
DENA: Good. Run Charlotte. Just 12, girls.
GABBIE: Well, you're nervous.
You realize, "Wow, this costume
is really heavy."
Because there's like a hundred bells
on that thing.
And then, you're like, "Oh,
"I'm actually dancing with this guy,
on this stage, with this scenery."
-It's all, like, surreal.
-(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
GABBIE: This is gonna
be my last Nutcracker.
I wanna get my turns perfect.
They're pretty good,
but they're not the best.
-So, I wanna get them perfect.
-(PIANO MUSIC CONTINUES)
DENA: Okay.
That was good, it really was, okay?
The only part that I was concerned
about is after swing,
as you're going back...
watch the line every time you look
to the side.
We need a prince.
Isabela, do we know where the prince is?
Oh, thank God! Here he is!
The prince has arrived.
(ALL APPLAUDING)
(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
KAI: It feels exciting because I've done
a lot of rehearsals,
and I've come this far.
I think I can just keep calm for this role
and just do the steps and have fun.
DENA: Really sway. Play your instrument,
honey.
KAI: It's been a new experience.
I was a soldier the first year.
Then I was party scene,
and now I really felt like I could bring
my own thing to it.
DENA: Well, there was a part
where you still needed to go
-to her, you saw that?
-KAI: Mm-hmm.
-Still a little bit bigger for everything.
-Yeah.
-Um... and the eyes...
-KAI: Mm-hmm.
-...that was still to the side, so...
-Here.
...here, here, don't slap your face.
I think this says a lot about Kai,
that he gets more stressed
when he falls behind on homework
than he seems to get stressed being
-on the stage at Lincoln Center.
-(CHUCKLES)
DENA: Ready? And...
STEVE: Sophia has... has always been
very focused.
She's drawn to ballet
because it is so precise,
and requires so much discipline.
KELLY: We just really want Sophia to be
in the moment.
I found myself telling Sophia, there
are moments you feel really stressed out,
but you have to take a deep breath
and really soak this all in,
and enjoy it because this is a privilege
and an experience that...
most people who even go
on to be professional dancers
in other companies, never get to dance
on the stage at Lincoln Center.
SOPHIA: When I was sitting
in that throne,
the sweets come to life and dance for us.
I love watching the ballet,
so I kind of saw it as a free seat
to the ballet and to get to see
all my favorite dancers on the stage.
DENA: Okay, girls, get in your lineup
in your order.
Okay, and remember what we talked
about yesterday,
about being really tight,
watch for his walks,
both on the way in and on the way out.
(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
-(GIRLS EXCLAIMING)
-(DENA GASPING)
Wait, what's happened under
there?
With Mother Ginger, there's been
a few incidents
where sometimes you accidentally
get your foot caught.
ELLA: They couldn’t move more over
and I think I...
like, hit him a little bit.
ELLA: It's really hard for the principal,
'cause they can't see...
-Sorry.
-...below their feet.
-DENA: Okay. You guys were okay?
-Yeah, I'm okay, it felt like someone...
-DENA: Pushed? Yeah.
-...like stopped.
Okay, take a deep, go to the side,
we're gonna try it again.
Okay. We have to be able to do this.
Just think of doing it exactly
like we did in the studio,
just slightly bigger steps so you can get
to the center.
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-(APPLAUDING)
I have so much respect for Ms. Abergel
and Mr. Higgins,
and the work that they do because I mean,
that is a lot of kids,
-it is a lot of choreography.
-(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
JACK: And it really takes
so much hard work.
And not only just the kids, but the people
behind the scenes.
Seeing your child be a part of it
is just as valuable
as the performing part...
because you're working with... people
that are at the top of their game.
-JANIE: (LAUGHING) Molly...
-ELLA: Oh, hello!
This is Molly's.
Um, I don't really know
which one is my parents'.
This one we say is mine just
because... it's different.
Our tree is very personal, too.
Um, there's pictures of me what like,
through the years of school.
JANIE: Ella, actually, from the time
she was little, was making ornaments...
-Oh, yeah.
-...at her school. And she would
always make little dancers,
so there's one.
I made this in first grade.
Oh, almost dropped it.
There's always a little bit of a spike
in everybody running around
before the holidays, because it's just
that you're trying to get ready.
So, we need to put one can of these
on each of these and try to cover all
of it.
All right, so remember, try to go slow,
so it doesn't all pour out at once.
Yeah, that's good, really good.
Sometimes I just forget how much
she's doing
because she just makes it seem
so easy.
-(BLOWS RASPBERRIES) Wait, hold on.
-(JANIE LAUGHING)
JACK: Between getting her schoolwork
done and doing these rehearsals
and just all this responsibility
that she has. So, I'm just very impressed.
(CHUCKLES)
-Okay, just...
-Like, now just pull it out and in,
-and then, like, do this.
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-MALE VOICE: You need some help? (LAUGHS)
-No, it's fine.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-Looks like you're ready to go to a party.
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-(GASPS)
-We... No, we ...No, we start jumping
-when they hug.
-Boys are loud.
JACQUELINE: Yes.
SOPHIA: Today, we have
Act One dress rehearsal.
Tomorrow we have Act Two dress
rehearsal,
and then we have the, oh... oh, wait,
no, tomorrow is Thanksgiving.
(LAUGHS) And then, the next day
we have Opening Night.
I go like this, and then they say...
(GASPS)
-..."I have an idea, let's play..."
-MALE STUDENT 1: Yeah.
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-MALE STUDENT 1: Yay.
-I'm actually nervous.
-MALE STUDENT 2: I know.
Okay, you're good.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-(CHEERS) Bye! Bye!
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
BRANDON:
The stage, we're going on the stage.
(BELL CHIMING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
BRANDON: So, in the opening I'm sleeping
on Marie.
It was kind of weird at first,
'cause you're sleeping on the floor
in front of a big audience... (CHUCKLES)
...and usually you don't sleep on people.
Uh, in front of a big audience,
let alone sleep. (CHUCKLING)
And you have to stay alert.
You can't wake up
without her tapping you.
So it really revolves around the music
that beginning scene.
(PIANO MUSIC CONTINUES)
BRANDON: As Fritz, you're angry at Marie,
because she gets she gets everything
and... (CHUCKLES) ...you don't.
-DENA: Move to the center, kids.
-BRANDON: I think that I've gotten better
at my role being this obnoxious,
spoiled person.
DENA: (CLAPPING) Sorry, sorry.
We're just gonna try that one more time.
-You're not on this side for so long.
-It seems kind of far away.
Well, Marie gets into a lot of fights
with her brother.
(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
SOPHIA: Me and my sister,
we don't argue that much,
and we're not that rough with each other,
but I can relate to the sibling aspect.
(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
FEMALE DRESSER: Don't touch heads.
Don't touch heads.
-JACQUELINE: Who's eight?
-ELLA: I'm not. Olivia, you're eight.
-Ladies, we just did this earlier.
-OLIVIA: I'm six.
-FEMALE STUDENT: I'm five.
-No, I'm six.
-Okay, just got it. just... just...
-ELLA: I thought you were four?
-OLIVIA: I'm number ten.
-FEMALE STUDENT: You were four.
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-ELLA: Is anyone three?
-FEMALE STUDENT 1: I think I'm seven.
-FEMALE STUDENT 2: I'm three.
FEMALE STUDENT: Merde.
-Merde. Merde.
-IUSASET: Okay, this is not...
-FEMALE STUDENT: Merde.
-Hello.
-FEMALE STUDENT: Merde.
-MALE STUDENT: Who's that?
It's your father, come on.
The mice have to wear
a really big head, big body.
Ladies, I need you to focus.
The next person should be putting
their head on,
and getting back in line.
Lift your belly up,
your head should be on.
ELLA: My head is on,
see it's right there.
-Girl, bye.
-(ELLA CHUCKLING)
OLIVIA: The big head is really heavy
and most of the time
it doesn't even fit your head.
It either goes down or it's up
and it's all around.
FEMALE STUDENT: Do we take our tails out?
You don't take your tails out
until you're in the wings,
right before you run onto stage,
because you don't wanna trip on it
and there are people walking around
backstage.
Don't trip on them, hold your tails.
Hold your tails.
Go ahead, belly up, out the way.
FEMALE VOICE: When you're in the wing,
take your tail out.
(SIGHS)
(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
SOPHIA: It really felt like a real show,
scenery changing and all the costumes.
The tree is growing,
and then the nutcracker grows, too.
KAI: The Prince starts off
in the party scene,
and then he meets Marie. And while Marie
has the whole violin thing and like,
the tree growing, he turns
into the nutcracker.
And he comes and does the battle scene
as the nutcracker.
For the battle scene, since I did it
once as a soldier,
I think I might be more used to it
since it's chaotic.
(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
DENA: Though it's always different
when it's all put together.
Especially in the battle scene.
Part of it is teaching them that they have
to be spontaneous.
They get like, "But what do I do?
You told me this,
"and Mr. Higgins said stay in this line."
Run fast, little mice. Fast, fast, fast,
go.
I feel like in the battle scene,
Marie is curious and scared
at the same time 'cause she'll... hide,
and then kind of come back out
wanting to know what happened.
And then, she throws her shoe
at the mouse.
And then, I'm not sure if she actually
goes to sleep,
but she faints on to the bed.
DENA: Really touch his costume,
he can't feel it. Hold on. (CLAPPING)
-Okay, you okay?
-KAI: Yeah. It's just I can't see and...
this is really heavy and the lights make
it hard to...
DENA: (CHUCKLING) I know it's a lot,
you're gonna be fine.
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-(SOFT PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
SOPHIA: My favorite part
was riding the bed...
because my eyes are closed and you kind
of just feel, like, this wind...
as you turn around, and then all
of a sudden I hear
this, like, raining sound,
and it's the snow that's falling.
And I feel it all hit my face.
It felt so magical.
(ORCHESTRAL MUSIC PLAYING)
ZOE: For The Nutcracker, the apprentices
usually are maids or sometimes they
also do snowflake scene
or hot chocolate,
-which is in the second act.
-(DANCE MUSIC PLAYING)
It just makes me happy...
when you're right on the music
and it's just working,
and you're up there,
it just feels like you're on air.
It's like you're not even thinking
about it and it's just, it's so perfect.
ELLA: We've gotten used to having company
members there,
and if something goes wrong, it's okay.
There's the people you admire,
like the soloists in the company,
the people you look up to and want
to be like when you're older.
So, getting to dance with them is great.
GABBIE: I was actually doing
a turn backstage,
and Daniel Ulbricht was like, "Good job!"
And he fist-bumped me.
DENA: The Nutcracker has been going
on for...
well, over 60 years. And what makes
it really fresh are the children.
And of course, and all of the major roles,
and all of the minor roles.
Everything is important.
But it's truly the children
and the constantly changing children.
Because... the company members watch
them grow from Angels.
Sometimes to Marie, and sometimes
to Hoops, and then a couple years later,
-become part of the company.
-(ORCHESTRAL MUSIC PLAYING)
DENA: It's a beautiful progression,
and for me,
going to the School of American Ballet,
dancing with New York City Ballet,
and coming back to be a teacher...
that whole full-circle thing,
it's tremendously rewarding.
DENA: Careful.
Okay. It's good. You did a great job.
I am supposed to be teaching at SAB
now, so...
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-DENA: Thanks!
Happy Thanksgiving!
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
ELIAS: Hey.
I'm from California and it's never snowed
where I've lived before. So, just, like...
looking out the windows at SAB,
and just seeing the snowfall,
and... and it's so exciting.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
ELIAS: And then, I force my friends
to go and play in it with me.
A lot of them are from Colorado
and they're like, "This is so stupid,"
-but I'm, like, so excited.
-(BELL CHIMING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Okay.
Winter hasn't been
that bad this year,
it hasn't snowed that much, but I'm gonna
be going home for a little bit.
And... I'm excited for the warm weather.
(LAUGHS)
(RUBY LAUGHING)
RUBY: Okay, I have to text Mom. (LAUGHING)
Look, they sent me a picture
of all of them
on the couch frowning. (LAUGHING)
'Cause I'm not home yet. We're on our way.
The fact that I live in Lincoln Center...
(CHUCKLING) ...where these people from all
over the country...
come because they're at the top
of their field.
Yeah. (CHUCKLES)
Very lucky.
But Seattle, it's always been my home.
-(GASPING) Oh, my gosh, Charlie!
-(JASON TALKING INDISTINCTLY)
(LAUGHS) He has a balloon!
I'm very close with my siblings.
They are probably the people
that know me best.
(RUBY KISSING) Muah!
When we were all younger, we spent all
of our time together.
Hi, Mommy! (CHUCKLING)
-ELISE: You like the llama?
-RUBY: I love the llama. (LAUGHING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-I almost got a taco. (LAUGHS)
-(RUBY LAUGHING)
-RUBY: Hugs, hugs, hugs, hugs, hugs.
-ENDRE: Hi.
Aven gets hugs hugged first
because she's the small one.
-ENDRE: Hi.
-RUBY: Hey, Endre.
Endre was 13 when I left and his voice
has dropped,
he's... now he's taller than me!
-RUBY: Is it a kids cook tonight?
-ENDRE: Yes.
-No.
-(RUBY LAUGHING)
RUBY: The hardest part about moving,
I felt like I was missing out
on them growing up.
-We'll tag team it. Okay.
-ENDRE: Finally, back.
I did miss my siblings, but my parents
I missed more than anything.
ELISE: Yeah, we took her
to Stowell/Sendak's Nutcracker,
and she just was going insane
the whole first half.
-Dancing in the womb, basically.
-(RUBY LAUGHING)
-RUBY: When I was in your stomach?
-Yes. But you were in...
Yes. And you were... going crazy.
Ruby just kinda always...
I don't remember ever not
viewing her as a dancer.
I think she's somewhat of an anomaly,
most people don't really have this passion
that they can really identify,
something that they really
are talented at,
and love and want to sacrifice for,
so young.
-(VOCALIZING)
-(ALL LAUGHING)
I never did Angels,
but I was a small servant,
is what they called it,
and I had a little lantern,
and I walked around the stage.
Ruby's always had a really strong...
connection with her own voice.
We never set up a dream,
and then tried to... get her on board.
She pushed herself.
She's made tons of sacrifices.
And then... (CHUCKLES) ...and then,
Ruby is now an apprentice.
JASON: What I'm most proud about Ruby
is just the kind of person she is...
um, how she treats people.
Okay. Don't look, don't show the kitty.
-(WHISPERS) It has a little tail!
-JASON: She just has a heart for people.
-RUBY: Just ate it, oh! (CHUCKLES)
-AVEN: Oh, he's eating it now.
-(CHUCKLES)
-So, uh, what are you doing this summer?
I'll probably stay in New York.
I can get like, a... apartment
with all the other apprentices
that are staying.
ELISE: (CHUCKLING) I'm freaking out
right now.
So they stay for the summer,
and then their apprenticeship
-starts in August?
-RUBY: Yes.
ELISE: New York, now is her home.
In some ways it's like,
"Oh, I thought I'd have 18 years
with her."
And I only got, you know, less.
But really, I don't feel robbed.
To know that you're raising them
to actually leave you. (LAUGHS)
And you're just like, it's such a...
privilege to have someone
you get to sacrifice for.
My heart is very stretched... from it.
-Yeah.
-(LAUGHS)
RUBY: My apprenticeship still
has not sunk in.
I just keep thinking about all the people
that have helped me get here,
and I'm like, "I have to...
"be brave for them and... push forward."
(LAUGHS)