Like the grand celebration that opens Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker," The Riverfront Glass Pavilion will be decorated for a kid-centric Christmas celebration during the Sugar Plum Fairy Tea opening at 2 p.m. Nov. 24.
Designed to be "everything a child would want," Western Arkansas Ballet's annual Sugar Plum Fairy Tea is more than a kickoff for its annual production of "The Nutcracker." The yearly event where ballerinas mingle with children is meant to inspire Christmas wonderment for all, said Jared Mesa, artistic director of the nonprofit and preprofessional dance company.
Kids are seated at tables piled with tiers of sweet treats. A hot chocolate bar with additions like marshmallows and candy canes is availble for kids to create their best hot cocoa while music from the iconic ballet plays in the background. Many of the characters from the ballet mingle with guests and answer questions from the smallest soon-to-be ballerinas and kids at the event.
Mesa added that kids and their families can explore crafts at stations set up through out the room. In the past, he said kids have painted pictures of Nutcrackers and made festive fascinators (small hats) during the event. There will also be Christmas gifts for sale including Nutcrackers, of course. Refreshments for adults are available during the party, too.
A favorite for many of those attending is a chance to meet and take photos with the Sugar Plum Fairy herself. This year an alumni of the Western Arkansas Ballet, Kelsey Corder, will dance as the principal role in the company's annual production of "The Nutcracker" and the Sugar Plum Fairy Tea.
"She started dancing with us when she was four years old, and she danced at the studio until she graduated from high school," Mesa said. Since then, Corder spent four years dancing with the Louisville Ballet in Kentucky and is now an apprentice with the American Midwest Ballet in Omaha, Neb.
"We're really proud of her and how far she's come in the dance world," said Mesa. "It's really exciting to have talent that was homegrown ... be at the pinnacle of what we do.
"Every dancer when they're younger dreams of doing Sugar Plum at some point in their life. I think for her it's probably very special because it's her home studio."
Playing the lead role in the ballet as Clara this year is Adalyn Fore, he said. Asher Mercer will dance as the Nutcracker for his first performance with WAB.
"We've brought in more male dancers to partner with our students here, so that there's a bigger variety in what the audience is going to see on stage," Mesa said, which will include solos and some duets.
Mesa added that Western Arkansas Ballet is excited about doing a new snow scene this year too, so keep an eye out for The Waltz of the Snow Flakes.
The WAB's production of "The Nutcracker" is now in its 39th year. As in the past, the performance features members of the company plus dancers from nearby ballets and members of the community. Mesa said that there will be 116 performers this year, which includes local children and grown ups.
Fort Smith attorney Stephen Smith will reprise his role of Herr Drosselmeyer, Clara's eccentric godfather who gifts her the nutcracker that comes to life and defeats the rat king.
For Mesa, Christmas starts when he see's the interaction between children and the dancers during the Sugar Plum Fairy Tea. Since many of the small attendees want to be ballerinas one day, they look at the dancers from WAB like they are celebrities.
It's a boost for the dancers who are still in middle school and a reminder of the wonder and excitement that comes with seeing "The Nutcracker" on stage, especially for the first time.
"I think that they they stop remembering that they're in high school and there's just a soft, warm personality that they get when they're working with the children that sometimes they don't always [have] because they're around older people," he said.
The Sugar Plum Fairy Tea, he said, helps the ballet company continue to foster the wonderment that comes with the season by immersing those attending into the world of "The Nutcracker," but also by making the idea of being a dancer one day approachable for those who might want to dance just like the graceful artists on stage.
"At the end of the day, it's really about making sure that we're fostering this love of dance and ballet with younger audience."
----
FAQ
Sugar Plum Fairy Tea
WHAT -- Just ahead of the Western Arkansas Ballet's annual performance of "The Nutcracker," children and their families are invited to tea with The Sugar Plum Fairy, Clara and other characters for an afternoon of sweet treats, crafts and fun. Adult tickets include refreshments. Kids may take photos with the characters at the event. Nutcrackers and other Christmas items will be available for purchase.
WHEN -- 2 p.m. Nov. 24
WHERE -- Riverfront Glass Pavilion, 100 North B St. in Fort Smith.
COST -- Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for children and students (with a valid student ID presented at the door).
INFO -- waballet.org
BONUS -- The 39th annual performance of "The Nutcracker" by the Western Arkansas Ballet and members of the Fort Smith community are at 7 p.m. Dec. 21 and 2 p.m. Dec. 22 at the ArcBest Performing Arts Center in Fort Smith. Tickets are $20 for children, $30 for adults.
Decorations and refreshments for the annual Sugar Plum Fairy Tea are designed to be "everything a child would want," said Jared Mesa, artistic director of Western Arkansas Ballet. From highly decorated marshmallows to simple sweet treats that you might find at a grand Christmas celebration. Tickets are $30 for each child and $20 for each adult. An adult with a ticket must accompany children. Tickets are on sale now at waballet.org. No tickets will be sold at the door. Seating is limited. (Submitted Photo/Jared Mesa)
[
]