At the age of three, Rachel Weber watched the Nutcracker ballet for the first time. She sat on the edge of her seat, eyes following the characters of mice, soldiers and sugar plum fairies.
This December, Weber will be among them on stage.
Weber, 9, will play the role of party boy during the Goh Ballet Academy’s production Dec. 15-18 at the Centre for the Performing Arts in Vancouver.
She is most excited about entering the ballet on a sleigh.
Weber will then join the other cast members in a Christmas party scene, where the boys get to chase a costumed bear, tease the girls and do a special march.
That is her favourite part, she says, demonstrating the walk.
When she auditioned in May, Weber didn’t think she would get the part. But her number was called, and she started rehearsals on Sundays at the academy located on Main Street in Vancouver.
While some of the steps have been difficult, with choreography at a grade four level (Weber is trained to grade one), she practises to the Tchaikovsky score every day in her living room.
During practice, Weber enjoys watching the girls playing the lead role, Clara. And then there is the magician.
Wide-eyed, Weber recounts how he sticks a needle through a balloon, makes things disappear and pulls a wooden nutcracker from a pile of scarves. “It’s so cool.”
Only this time, she will get to dance.
Shows are 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 15-18; with matinee shows on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. To purchase tickets visit, www.ticketmaster.ca.