Liberty Park student to star in Alabama Ballet's "Nutcracker"

Despite being only 10 years old, Hannah Hollis already has the poise of a young ballerina. There isn’t a hint of shyness in her broad smile or her confident, intelligent manner. The oldest of four siblings, Hollis is a student at Liberty Park Elementary and enjoys sports, crafts and playing outside. Most importantly, however, Hollis loves to dance, and this Christmas she’ll be taking the stage in a lead role in the Alabama Ballet’s performance of The Nutcracker.

The Alabama Ballet will be one of only seven ballet companies performing the George Balanchine version of the classic ballet. His production, first performed in 1954, has become the ballet’s most famous stage performance. Many ballet companies imitate his choreography, costumes and set design, but only a select few are permitted to perform his original work. The Alabama Ballet had to audition with Balanchine’s trust to prove they could handle the choreography and the costs of the production. 

Balanchine’s performance is noteworthy because it is visually stunning and its choreography is designed for children to perform the main roles rather than adults.

“He really wanted kids to look like kids. He didn’t want them to do something they weren’t meant to do. The choreography is a lot, but it’s very simple,” said Katy Olsen, the Alabama Ballet marketing director. “[They are] supposed to look like little kids and act like little kids.”

As one of those children, Hollis will be a crucial part of recreating Balanchine’s innovative production in Birmingham. She will be performing in the lead female role, Marie, which is also commonly known as Clara. 

“[Marie] has the dream about what all happens. She goes to the Land of Sweets,” Hollis said.

Hollis has been dancing since she was three years old and enjoys ballet because of its slow and “peaceful” movements. She was also cast as Marie in the 2012 performance, so she isn’t nervous about taking the stage again. In fact, her experience has made her a natural leader for the other two girls who share the role.

“She’s very easy to work with in rehearsal,” Olsen said. “She picks things up quickly, and she’s very smart and she’s very sweet.”

Hollis has been rehearsing since early October to perfect some of the more challenging pieces of choreography, especially when she is onstage alone for extended periods of time.

“We have to do everything a certain way,” Hollis said. “It’s sort of difficult to get all the moves right because I’m [onstage] for 20 minutes... So it’s just very difficult to remember everything.”

For Hollis, the best part of the ballet is the battle scene between the Nutcracker’s soldiers and the mice. Although her character is observing from the side and has no direct part in the scene, she enjoys watching the battle and the death of the Mouse King. From the opening party scene to the final curtain, however, Hollis loves being part of The Nutcracker and can’t wait to show off her months of hard work as Marie.

This year, the Alabama Ballet’s performances will be held Dec. 13-15 and 20-22 at the Wright Center at Samford University. Tickets are $20 and can be bought at alabamaballet.org or by calling 975-2787.