On December 9th, Goffstown High School’s very own Movement and Dance Company (MoDaCo) showcased The Nutcracker. This two hour performance was displayed through two acts and an intermission. The majority of Act 1 took place in Clara’s house. Some scenes include the Party Scene, The Battle, and the Land of Snow. Act 2 was entirely presented in the Land of Sweets. Throughout the act, gifts were given to Clara and The Nutcracker as a welcome to their land. Some gifts include the Spanish Chocolate, Chinese Tea, and German Candy Canes.
As an audience member, the dancers perfectly portrayed every role and personality. Madison Whitney, one of the many dancers who took part in The Nutcracker had three roles. Royal Court, Angel, and Soldier were the various roles she took on. This is her 4th nutcracker performance in her dancing career. Many dancers appear effortless from the audience’s perspective, however not all dancers are natural performers.
Maddy describes her exact experience by saying “I used to hate being on stage. But once I started dancing more” it changed. She grew as a performer. Dance is time consuming no matter what. However, nutcracker season is a hassle. Maddy and many other dancers can agree that between The Nutcracker and her regular dance, it was difficult to get to rehearsals on time. She enjoyed most of the choreography, “but there is usually no tap in The Nutcracker,” so it was different. Even though this was unusual, she “loved watching the German Candy Canes” backstage. Out of the performances she took part in, Maddy liked the Royal Court the most. Overall, “it was a good experience,” even with its small flaws. The final product was fantastic to watch.
As an audience member, I could tell just how hard everyone worked. During The Battle scene, “when the rat queen died, she rolled off the stage, and instead of the soldiers catching her” she fell. Maddy states it was a small mishap that was easily fixed. The Nutcracker was a great addition to my weekend and I can’t wait to watch it again next year.
