Backstage spy: TMR’s intern gets to combine two of her loves, dancing and photography, in Selma’s colorful production of ‘Nutty Nutcracker’

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY RACHEL YEPREMIAN-OWENS

Last weekend, The Dancing School of Selma held its annual performance of the “Nutty Nutcracker,” its unique version of the famous Christmas tale. You can find mention of this performance in our previously published Nutcracker roundup for this winter season. 

I was one of the dancers performing in the show. We had two days of technical rehearsals at the theater and then performances on Dec. 13 and 14. Apart from dancing, I took on the role of a Backstage Spy. 

The moments I wasn’t on stage, I took a series of photos that give small snippets of what goes on behind the scenes of a ballet production, specifically the “Nutty Nutcracker.”

Pictured at top: A soldier (Casey DeBaets) and bunny (Norah DeBaets), a real-life mother and daughter, share a giggly moment together during a post-rehearsal meeting.

Little Clara (Annie DeBaets) and Louise (Ariel Nieves) smile for a photo the night before our weekend of performances.

Pre-performance bun pinning, sister-to-sister (Wilma and Sarah Tsutsui).

Our Mouse Queen (Victoria Cisneros Soto) warming up downstairs by doing tendus before changing into costume and getting ready for the Fight Scene during Act I.

This is one collection of the many costumes worn by our dancers throughout the performances. Some of these include costumes for Snowflakes, Rubies, Mirliton, Flowers, Arabian, Spanish and my hot-pink mouse tutu peeking through.

Beth Zobian, The Dancing School’s director, giving her cast a final rehearsal meeting before a weekend of performances. She grew up at The Dancing School, taking classes as a young girl and teaching in her early teenage years. After returning home to Fresno from earning a master’s degree at Golden Gate University in San Francisco, she gradually transitioned into the role of director.

Deanna Driscoll, The Dancing School’s founder, watches her daughter Beth Zobian lead our final rehearsal meeting. Driscoll, a former dancer with San Francisco Ballet, founded the school in 1972 after moving to Fresno. The first recital she created was titled “Scenes from Santa’s Workshop,” and our school just celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022.

The Party Scene maid (Erin Nikitin) is caught hot-glueing one of her props downstairs before heading backstage for Act I.

A wing shot of Uncle Drosselmeyer (Marty Leesch) making his grand entrance into the party while the party kids play duck, duck, goose.

A wing shot of the Little Nutcracker (Lucy Davis) and Little Mouse Queen (Khloe Colins) dancing together after being brought to life with Uncle and Aunt Drosselmeyer’s magic.

Our backstage prop table with things varying from presents, to a massive block of cheese, to a bow and arrow. Believe it or not, SPOILER: that very block of cheese is what causes the Mouse Queen to die in this show.

Two of my five costumes set up backstage, ready for my quick changes. I go directly from a Party Scene dancer, to a mouse in the Fight Scene, to a snowflake in the Snow Scene.

 One of our big mice (John Driscoll) sweeps up snow during intermission after the conclusion of Act I with the Snow Scene.

The Mouse Queen (Victoria Cisneros Soto), Nutcracker (Julia Tsutsui) and Sugar Plum Fairy (Wilma Tsutsui) (left to right) dance together in the introduction to Act II with the angels.

A wing shot of Spanish Chocolate (Katarina Quintana) performing her variation during Act II in the Land of Sweets. Don’t ask how many times she got called Spider-man in this costume.

A wing shot of Big Louise (Riley Paull-left) and Clara (Laura Chandler-right) enjoying the Peppermints and Chefs perform in Act II after being gifted with peppermint sticks.

The pumpkin-flavored pastries I gifted to Clara and Louise as the Mirliton variation in Act II. Pastries are courtesy to Maiden Voyage in Selma. Fun fact: These were the only real props used in the entire show.

Julie Tstutsui, a proud mom, teacher at The Dancing School and party parent in the Party Scene, watches through the wings as her daughter Wilma performs her role as the Sugar Plum Fairy. Julie performed alongside and watched three of her daughters in our show. 

In the show, I played a total of five different roles; however, my Mirliton variation is considered my main role. This is my beautiful costume with my name on the hanger.

Our Mouse Queen (Victoria Cisneros Soto), Sugar Plum Fairy (Wilma Tsutsui), Cavalier (Cooper Walker) and Nutcracker (Julia Tsutsui) (left to right) pose for a beautiful picture on the Selma Arts Center stage.

Rachel concludes:

It was an amazing opportunity and an unforgettable experience being able to combine my two loves of dancing and photography for this year’s “Nutty Nutcracker.”

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