A Princely Transformation
“The Nutcracker Prince is Clara’s childhood ideal of what a prince should be,” said Principal Rehearsal Director Master Pamela Robinson-Harris.
In order to get from doll to human dancer, the role is meticulously coached. “There is quite a bit of pantomime the Prince must convey in order for him to tell the story,” said Pamela. “First, he is the life-sized version of the doll while the battle ensues. Afterward, the helmet comes off and he takes on human form. Clara is surprised and does not know who he is, so the Prince waves his hand down his straightened arms meaning that he was wooden. Then he slides his hand over his face, conveying he was Clara’s doll. Finally, he waves both arms and hands to the sky, explaining he is alive. It is short, but it tells the story efficiently.”
Pamela said that these pantomimes are directly from Mr. C’s choreography, and are not seen in any other ballets. Coaching these movements brings her joy, saying, “The process of watching a dancer grow and perfect their technical skills is my favorite part of my job. It is the most rewarding thing—next to actually dancing on stage.”
