Studio West Dance Academy’s 'The Nutcracker'

Originally published on The JOLT News on November 24th, 2025

On Saturday night, Nov. 15, my mom and I had the honor of watching Studio West Dance Academy’s “The Nutcracker” dress rehearsal, and it was a really magical experience.

I felt my childlike wonder revive itself, my inner Barbie girl wanting to try on every single glorious costume, and joy and amazement brought to my heart, watching this talented cast of dancers perform one of my favorite traditions.

I have seen this company’s Nutcracker on stage in the past, but never a rehearsal. Watching these dancers, I gained a new appreciation for this ballet and all the little details that can be woven in. More on that later.

Before writing this column, I found myself chatting with a loved one who has never seen this classic ballet and is unfamiliar with the story. I related the story the best I could and described why this is such a part of a Christmas tradition.

The Nutcracker allows us to escape into imagination to believe in Christmas magic, and the land of sweets and beyond. I think The Nutcracker is the closest thing we get to seeing our wildest childhood daydreams come true, and it is stunningly beautiful. If you’ve never seen The Nutcracker, I invite you to give it a chance this season and let it bless your heart.

Rehearsal observations

Before the dancing began, I got to see a closer look at the costumes. All the details were incredible and the costumes were gorgeous. One of the details that I think you’ll be able to see from the audience is that all the rats have distinct and differing features. No rat is the same, and they all almost look sweet even when they were creepy. That’s my one Easter egg that I can tell you to look out for.

As usual, the dancers went above and beyond my high expectations of them as they appreciated and incorporated all the littlest details into their moves right down to the fingertips. Their acting abilities alongside their dancing was impressive. I wish I had a million eyes so I could’ve seen and appreciated every single little thing all at the same time.

I especially enjoyed watching the adult men and women of the cast. Their roles were not significant as dancers, but their dedication to the cause was outstanding and their enthusiasm contagious, especially the men. I can only hope to have a husband one day who’s willing to engage in art and have such a jovial time with it. These words to God’s ears.

This is the second Studio West rehearsal I’ve been to, and I was reminded of why I admire the way Stephanie Wood and all other staffers interact with the dancers. They treat them like professionals and respect their talent, while also giving encouraging words and love. Even during the hard moments, the atmosphere in the studio is always familial.

One of the pieces of feedback Wood gave the dancers was to match their bodies with the music. I really love that because some music itself really is powerful, emotional, whimsical and romantic in its own way. It takes a whole other level of skill and intelligence to be able to receive that feedback and apply it, and the students did just that.

The students were also encouraged to keep smiling in every moment, and the students followed that advice even when they’re so sweaty and tired. I admired their strength and resilience for it because I don’t know if I always smile when I feel sweaty and tired. I think there’s a lesson in there somewhere.

Final reflections

I’ve seen The Nutcracker so many times that I wasn’t expecting to be surprised or to get emotional, but I did. There were moments that brought me genuine goosebumps, moments that made me ponder just how wonderful life is, and how lucky we are to have imaginations.

I’ve seen a preview of the land of suites and beyond and I want more. I cannot wait to see this production on stage. Keep an eye on the JOLT news calendar for details relating to this event. For now, mark your calendars for whatever date you prefer to see this during Thanksgiving weekend.

https://www.thejoltnews.com/stories/studio-west-dance-academys-the-nutcracker,27146