The Conservatory of Dance’s Nutcracker has changed my life forever.  In the “Hands” song there is a quote that says...”In the end, only kindness matters.”  This has certainly taught me to be kind and generous to everybody even if I don’t particularly care for that person.  In the beginning of Nutcracker, Klara is homeless and nobody likes her at all.  But a couple of people, such as the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Nutcracker himself, spot a spark of hope in her.  Who would’ve thought that just a single dance or recital could change your life!!  But believe you me, when you put that much passion and joy in your dancing, it does.
Last year for Nutcracker, I was blessed enough to get the part of Klara.  While I danced that part, I knew what it felt like to be shoved aside or not included.  As the recital continued, there was more and more hope for Klara because people started to believe in her, which gave her confidence.  At the end, Klara expressed even though her hands are small, they are not ours but they are hers.  Klara will never be broken.  This role helped me to include others at school and to reach out to those in need during the day.  In the 4 or 5 years I was in Nutcracker, I never really understood it and just danced it.  But as I grew older and got Klara, I realized that you have to do more than just dance.  You have to do more than do your homework and do your chores.  You must put your heart into it and you will succeed and understand a lot more things. In the Nutcracker, just a couple people had hope for Klara but once others saw their example, they followed them as well! I am now a whole different person because of Nutcracker and what it means to my life.  Even someone who has no possibility of making friends or, in Klara’s case, living a good life, believe.  Believe in that person and set an example for others.  This is what I learned and got out of Nutcracker.  This dance is more important to me now because I understand it and live my dancing!!  Once you take the time to listen to the songs and lyrics in Nutcracker like I did, you will be a whole different person.  And remember, I didn’t just dance Klara because that was my job; I became Klara and put myself in her shoes.  And I learned that “in the end, only kindness matters.”  Believe and have hope for people and there will be a change just like in the Nutcracker!

Molly