Congratulations to the Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory in Torrington CT on Their Five Golden Decades of Accomplishments! The Nutcracker at The Warner Theatre and at The Bushnell Is A Jewel of An Experience!

Guess who got to join in the festivities of the 50th Anniversary of Nutmeg Ballet by seeing their latest production of the The Nutcracker?

Yes, that would be me along with a few friends (some I found 'by chance' sitting near me) so catching up on how everyone was doing was a bonus and brainstorming ways to improve the world for our modern times happened for yet another 'coincidental reason'. I'll share more about that, but back to the Brilliant Ballet. Incredible talent and a refreshing set and portrayals shone in a delightful way. 

Hats off and perennial pirouhettes for Executive Director Sharon Dante who founded the company in 1969 and who was Artistic Director as well for many years. All the faculty are basically fantastic particularly for the longterm commitments. The dancers are simply amazing and leaders in the arts as well as many fields and in the community, encouraging us by example and likely in many ways we can't imagine. 

By all means try to catch the 2pm Show December 8th, 2019 in Torrington at the Warner, or head over to The Bushnell next weekend in Hartford CT to capture more of the magic and sheer exhilirating talent that graces the stage. Congratulations to each of the performers, particularly those with years of dance classes and performances behind them and for all they put into each show.

Short of that, play some of the Nutcracker online and let yourself and kids get inspired to dance at the spirit may lead you! Arabian, Chinese, Russian, Spanish dancing? Elegant party dancing, fighting mice and nutcracker and team? Everybody's got their moves and magic to make their own with teams of support. The messages may resound throughout our lands and forums for decision making whether in personal or professional circles, faith or politically.

Sometimes the keys to success and creativity are in our dreams. The outplaying of Sharon Dante's vision is an extraordinary effort that's made the community and county shine as forces have coalesced to bright her vision to life. Thanks a bundle, Sharon for sharin' your views and use and of your spectacular efforts with your hometown area and the world.

As for the dancers over the years, you are each incredibly awesome! By extension to the dancer and athlete in each of us, past, present and future. All efforts deserve recognition and finding the health and nutrition may be a quest more sugar plum fairies and good guides from many areas can help us pursue with steadfast efforts. Let's all get some down time and balance with breathing and relaxation (such as offered by other CT native yogabycandace.com whose got a handy app nowadays too.)

At times watching the palacial production at The Warner Theatre with the incredible music, lighting and special effects, such as cloudlike mists and snowflakes, I thought about the story of kids growing up, having magical adventures and wrestling with challenges. I wanted to mention The Jewel Story (by Catherine Palmer Paton  that I wrote at the request of my own children.) It's online as an audio and there's more online about it I have shared.

For the dancers and dreamers I like to applaud their efforts with sharing that kind of vision, trusting that can be inspiring to them as they continue on their real-life and amazing arts journey.

Braving 'making something real', exploring various voices and ways of expressing one's life experience, is all part of the great dance of life.

Maybe along with seeing ballet, arts and shows, more youth and families can create stories, playful and otherwise, maybe act out some charades and play word games to get the creative juices flowing. Taking nature walks and getting inspired by looking up at the sky, seeing birds and wildlife, and connecting in one's own way with a sense of being supported by others, nature and the realm of the arts can help us each feel braver in our life experiences.

Some people are facing difficulties of a personal or physical nature, yet often the arts and knowing people pursuing them can be a therapeutic and inspiring reprieve.

Dreaming better times into being is becoming a new normal and one that quantum theory says may help keep our world in order more than we have understood.

Now back to the Nutmeg Ballet and Legacy (the sound of  words there with 'legs I see' can pull the curtain back on the idea of where our legs and talents take us in life, whether in the arts, travel, rest or other aspects of the lower half of our bodies. Time to spotlight the power and possibilities of understanding the role our legs (or arms, and bodies in general) play in how our lives unfold.

I share more about insights about the gift and importance of our bodies and being conscious of how we exercise our free will and make strides for our health and well-being on other posts.

Here's to all helping along those lines, since it's not an 'even playing field' and too many ads and poor influences have taken a sense of control away from people. Hopefully dance and the arts restore that and likely could be an ongoing aspect of healing and empowerment for many more people with the internet and more access to space (and teachers with some coaching too.) Okay now back to the ballet.

I feel honored to have taken some summer classes with the ballet students in the 1980s, including the victorious Victoria Mazzarelli who returned after dancing abroad for many years to her local roots to help lead the next generations of Nutmeg ballet dancers  at the Artistic Director since 2010.  She still has a the talent, warmth and sparkle I recall from seeing her over the years and getting to meet some of her family over the years.

 I happened to get a hug from a 'famous prima ballerina' who was in the audience and perhaps took note of me as an usher. I will have to work on that little mystery but I heard her say she was turning 80 and she exuded a joy and warmth as do many of that stellar age set.

Later I got to see a close friend who treated me and my young guest to a simple supper and again time to visit, so a hug and fellowship with friends along the way added to the sense of extended family in the audience, community and of course the Nutmeg Ballet friends and family. 

If you can find some reviews of the details online, and see the history of the Nutmeg Ballet in a nutshell (in the Nutmeg state of CT) with a photo gallery, consider the years of dedication of hard work and dancing dreams from teachers, students, families, other dance and facility support people, audiences, school groups and the general public that have made Nutmeg an amazing part of our northwest corner of Connecticut, Northeastern part of the United States and the Ballet and Arts world far richer than it would have been had there been 'not enough' of the magic and steadfast drive to keep the show on the road all of these 50 years...and rooted in the heart of Torrington CT. Way to go Nutmeg and all who have shows support over the years and as they continue for the next 50 years!