Support your dancer through Nutcracker

Nutcracker is one of the biggest events in the ballet dancer's year.  For young students, it's often the first ballet they get to participate in.  For pros, it's an exhausting time where they must dance in up to 50 performances between Thanksgiving and New Year.  Regardless of your dancer's age or experience, dancing in the Nutcracker is a huge responsibility.  There are almost always numerous performances, and each show's audience is full of people fulfilling their holiday traditions.  There's an expectation to provide a top-quality performance that exceeds expectations since many of the audience members have seen the ballet before.  This can lead to dancers feeling more stressed and less joyous than they do when performing other ballets.  Families and friends can do a lot to support dancers through this tough season.

Dancers, especially those doing intense choreography like snow scene, need to care for their bodies.  It's common for dancers in these positions to get small injuries (bruised toenails, etc.) and lose weight during the performance run.  Parents and roommates can help a lot by keeping the cabinets stocked with Band-Aids, muscle rub, and healthy snacks.

Many dancers get tired of the Nutcracker long before the performance run is over (and sometimes even before it starts-rehearsals often begin months beforehand).  Some veterans who have performed in the production for years vehemently dislike the music.  Don't play Nutcracker music at home, and be aware that your dancer might express irritation at the Tchaikovsky suite playing in public places like the mall.

Plan non-ballet activities, but be conscious of the ballet schedule.  Most dancers relish opportunities to attend a Christmas part or take a shopping trip with family and friends.  When setting up these things, be aware of the time it takes to get ready and un-ready for performances.  Most dancers need a minimum of 2 hours before shows to warm up and do hair, makeup, and costumes.  It takes about an hour to completely decompress from a show, clean up, and change clothes.  If fun events are too close to show times, they lose their fun and become stressful.