Thursday, November 28, 2013 • 17
life
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
Triple Treat
Alabama Nasal & Sinus Center
Three Generations of Dancers Will Perform in ‘The Nutcracker’ By Ginny Cooper Journal intern
For Frances Rooney, dancing the part of Clara in the Nutcracker is a dream come true. The Spring Valley School sixthgrader said she remembers every detail about the day she learned she’d gotten the part in the Alabama Youth Ballet Company’s presentation of the holiday classic in December. Frances said she was at her family’s lake house in July when her mother, Beth Rooney of Mountain Brook, called to tell her the good news. “I started squealing,” Frances said. Beth said the whole family started screaming in joy for 12-year-old Frances, who’s been dancing since the age of 9. “We were all so happy,” Beth said. Frances isn’t the only one in the family dancing in the ballet. Her mother and paternal grandmother, Janet Rooney of Mountain Brook, will join her onstage. The dancers said their family dynamic is preserved in their roles in the ballet. “I’m Clara’s mother. I’m her mother onstage and offstage,” Beth said. “And her grandmother is the nanny, which is the grandmother role, kind of.” Janet said she began studying dance in her late 20s under the instruction of Birmingham ballerina Laura Toffel Knox, who danced as prima ballerina at a company in Puerto Rico and founded the first racially integrated dance company in Birmingham. Janet’s role in “The Nutcracker,” however, doesn’t call for much dancing. “I’ve danced for a long time, but this is a character role,” Janet said. “The nanny does get to dance with Drosselmeyer in the end though, which is very thrilling.” Beth said she knows the Nutcracker well and has danced almost every role in the ballet. “I was a party mother, and then I was Clara’s mother last year and this year. Before, when I was younger, I was in ‘The Nutcracker’ for nine years. One year I was Clara, but I was taken out of the role because I was too tall,” she said. Her favorite part of this production, Beth said, is seeing Frances dance her dream role. “I love to watch her,” she said. “I just cry sometimes, it’s so wonderful.” Beth said her daughter grew up dreaming of dancing in the role of Clara in the holiday classic. “Frances has always loved ‘The Nutcracker’ and always wanted to be Clara,” Beth said. “When she was little, she would watch the George Balanchine version of ‘The
From left: Beth Rooney, Janet Rooney and Frances Rooney will all perform in the Alabama Youth Ballet Company’s presentation of “The Nutcracker” in December. Journal photo by Lee Walls Jr.
Nutcracker’ and knew it by heart. We had a Nutcracker birthday for her when she turned 4, and it was a big event.” Alabama Ballet dancers performed parts of the second act of the ballet at Frances’ party, which was featured in Southern Baby magazine, Beth said. “Yes, it was huge,” Janet said, laughing. Though the Rooneys always attend the Alabama Ballet’s performance of “The Nutcracker,” they said they are happy to be involved in the Alabama Youth Ballet Company’s version, which has several unique aspects. “It’s more community-based,” Janet said. “They involve the community throughout the whole first scene. A city official dances the role of Mother Ginger, and the maid is actually the treasurer of the Ballet Guild.” The ongoing tradition of Mother Ginger is an important aspect of the production of “The Nutcracker” and is representative of the studio’s community mindset, Janet said. Mother Ginger, a role traditionally played by a man dressed as a woman, is a character in the second act whose children emerge from under her enormous skirt to dance. Grebel Studio recruits a prominent member of the community to play the part each year. “Every year there is a Mother Ginger Club,” Beth said. “They go to the city council meeting in Pelham, and they put the wig behind someone’s chair. Some years, it’s the fire chief, some years, it’s the mayor.
Nutcraker Performance Has Big OTM Connection Janet, Beth, and Frances Rooney aren’t the only ones to make “The Nutcracker” a family affair. “Most parents are extremely involved and will play some role, even if it’s just being a party mother. In the first act in the party scene, about half are parents of the kids and half are friends they brought in,” Debbie Grebel said. Several Over the Mountain residents will also be performing in the ballet this year. From the U.S. Highway 280 corridor the performers are Adrian Hughes and her daughter Mary Ashton Hughes, Lila Killian and daughter Claire Killian, McKinley Homan, Ellie Findley, Kate Knowles, Alice Goff, Kathryn-Taylor
Michael J. Sillers, M.D., F.A.C.S Dr. Kristopher Lay, M.D.
There’s a little club and all of the past Mother Gingers come every year. It’s At Alabama Nasal and Sinus Center we specialize in just fun. It’s a tradition.” This year, Pelham City adult and pediatric diseases of the ear, nose and throat. Councilman Ron Scott will play the The services we provide include nasal and sinus surgery including role of Mother Ginger. balloon sinuplasty (BSP), ear surgery, tonsillectomy, and thyroid The Grebel version of “The surgery. We also evaluate and manage allergic disease, skin lesions of Nutcracker” also has unique choreography, said Deborah Grebel, executive the head and neck, nasal obstruction, as well as hearing, balance, director of Grebel Center for Dance. speech, swallowing, snoring and sleep disorders. Stevan Grebel choreographed the Our excellent audiologists, Margaret Springfield, Aud., CCC-A and Emily ballet after the style of Marius Petipa, Cole, M.S., CCC-A, perform hearing tests and dispense hearing aids. who originally set the Tchaikovsky St. Vincent's Health and Wellness music to ballet in the 1890s. Grebel first presented his version of “The 7191 Cahaba Valley Road, Suite 301 Nutcracker” in 1970 at Boutwell Birmingham, Al 35242 Auditorium, then from 1973-82 at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention 205-980-2091 Complex with the Alabama Symphony www.alabamasinus.com Orchestra. This year will mark the eighth annual performance of “The Nutcracker” featuring the Alabama Youth Ballet Company at Pelham High School. Beth said it’s a smaller, more inti-To: Marylin mate version of the ballet. From: Over The Mountain Journal, 205-823-9646 ph., “The kids have a lot more opportu205-824-1246, fax nity to perform,” she said. Date: November 2013 Frances said she’s enjoying the whole process of being a part of This is your ad proof from the over the mountain Journal for the “The Nutcracker” this year, including novmeber 28, 2013 issue. Please contact your sales representative as soon as possible to hrough an inspiring exhibit of nativity displays rehearsals. approve your ad or make changes. You may fax approval or changes to 824-1246. “The rehearsals are fun, because from around the world, you’ll be reminded of the when I’m rehearsing I get to have all make sure all information is correct, miracle ofPlease the first Christmas many years ago. including address so and phone number! of my friends with me,” Frances said. Beth said many of the dancers at Grebel get together outside of the stuAt theplease same time, you’ll initial andhear faxstirring back within 24 hours. dio to do fun activities together. IfChristmas we have notmusic, heard from you by 5live pm by of the Friday before the press date, performed “We’re all just like a family,” your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday. gifted musicians, filling you with the Frances said. ❖
Come join us for a Community Christmas Celebration...
“In A Manger Lowly” A Christmas Open House
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Sisk, Ana Katkin and Reena Ramani. From Indian Springs the performers are Quentin Dunn and step-daughterto-be Mary Rose Kitchens. From Hoover, Nikolas Korcz and his brother Thomas Korcz will perform. From Vestavia, the performers are John Hollingsworth and Hannah Shelton. From Mountain Brook, Breelynne Bice, Polly Upton, Gincie Walker, Bill Upton, Janet Rooney, Beth Rooney and Frances Rooney will perform. Show times are Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. at Pelham High School, 2500 Panther Circle. Tickets are available online at www. grebeldance.com or can be picked up at Grebel Dance at 102 Commerce Parkway in Pelham until 2 p.m. on Dec. 11. --Ginny Cooper
you forseason. your prompt attention. spiritThank of the Christmas Admission is FREE. Enjoy light refreshments, an inspirational display of nativities and fellowship with friends and neighbors in celebrating God’s gift of love.
Friday, December 6th
10:00am – 12:00pm
Saturday, December 7th
10:00am – 2:00pm
Event is hosted by Vestavia Hills Baptist Church 2600 Vestavia Drive 35216