The other night I sat down in the theater, took my Mrs. Claus costume off of the hanger and sighed as I put on my pointe shoes. This is my seventh year performing in Once Upon A Holiday, which means I've performed as Mrs. Claus 24 times. There have been several times where I've thought to myself, “Aren't you too old to be skipping around the stage waving a wand around?” Then I put my tiara on and grace the stage with my smile anyway.
I walked to the stage in my Mrs. Claus leotard paired with sweatpants and topped by my skirt. As I approached to help with a class preparing for rehearsal, they gasped, “Are you Mrs. Claus?!” I replied, “I sure am!” One of the little girls who is performing in the show for the very first time this year looked up at me and smiled, “Ms. Andrea, you're going to be a REALLY great Mrs. Claus.” I laughed to myself because my student was pumping me up as if it was my first year performing the show. That little girl is holding the magic of this entire experience.
Here's the thing: I enjoy being Mrs. Claus. I enjoy finding new ways to bring the character to life, and it's nice to perform in a non-serious role as a professional dancer. Every year I have the opportunity to share the stage with my students and watch them grow through the various roles of the show. I experience the magic of their first performances and create memories with them that will hopefully last a lifetime.
As a cast we all pull together to bring the excitement of Once Upon A Holiday to everyone in the audience. We become a team of performers who have all worked hard to bring joy to parents, friends, teachers, and the community. The students get to see the value of hard work, they get to build their confidence, see teamwork in action, and take pride in their accomplishments. We don't just put this show on by ourselves. The show is put on by the entire ADC family: teachers, students, husbands, friends, and all of the parents that volunteer their time to help everything come together smoothly.
My little student reminded me of that magic the other night. She reminded that this isn't just another box to check or tech week to get through. This is a time to take a deep breath and enjoy that we get to take a break from the routine. It's a time to feel the love and excitement of the season and grow together as a performance family. How thankful I am that I get to be part of creating that magic each season.
Happy opening night everyone! Judging by how amazing this week has been, it's going to be a wonderful show.