[25/50] Counting down 50 NYCB Nutcrackers this year with stories from NYCB dancers past and present! Today we hear from Sandra Jennings who danced in the company form 1974-1983:
“My first experience with Mr. B’s Nutcracker was as in Saratoga Springs, NY in the summer of 1968. I performed as a soldier and an angel. I fell in love with the production and the dancers! I remember how kind Mr. B was with all of the children! He was such an icon of dance and he treated us as part of the company! I remember Madame Pourmel, the wardrobe mistress, who made us understand how each costume was a work of art and we must treat it with care. She was so lovely and committed to the company and Mr. B!
“When I first got in the company I often danced 42 Snows and Flowers as my alternate would often get injured. One year I got a little bored and decided to do double saute basques in Flowers corps. I was in the 3rd line so I thought no one will notice. I’m certain Mr. B noticed because Rosemary came up to me and asked me, ‘Are you doing double saute basques in Flowers?” I had to say yes. She said, “just make sure you land at the same time as the other girls.”
“Now having been a rehearsal director for many years myself I would say that came from Mr. B. I can’t imagine Rosemary would have allowed that. I think Mr B probably said, ‘just let her.’ Shortly after that, my friend, Debbie Austin, followed my idea and we both did double saute basques!
“We always had our crazy New Years Eve Nutcracker. I remember one year Christmas caroling in the back window during Party Scene. A well known dance critic wrote that there were people in the back at the window during party scene making obscene gestures. We were just singing carols. We did a lot of shows and would sometimes misbehave but never in a way that took away from the shows. Mr Balanchine was very patient with us!”
1. Photo by Martha Swope, 1977
2. Photo by Sid Cronsberg, 1966
3. Photo from Saratoga Newspaper, 1968
4. Photo by Martha Swope, 1978
5. Photo by Costas, 1981
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