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Dreaming of sugar plum fairies BY REBECCA MAYER The Forest Grove News-Times, Nov 9, 2006
The regal notes of Tchaikovsky's Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy float through the air at Pacific University's Taylor Auditorium.
Local dancers bring the music to life portraying the world-renowned characters Clara, the Snow Princess and the Sugar Plum Fairy.
“It's definitely a vision right now,” said Patty Petersen, owner of Forest Grove Dance Arts. “I hope people will
jump on board.”
Petersen is starting Ballet Forest Grove, a non-profit entity that will work toward an annual performance of “The Nutcracker.”
Petersen will hold a meeting at 8 p.m. on Nov. 15 at the studio in Forest Grove Health and Fitness to enlist the help of all interested people. Hopefully the first board meeting would be in January.
This year, Petersen's dance students are performing excerpts of "The Nutcracker" at local retirement homes, The Elms and The Beehive.
In the spring, Petersen anticipates holding a young choreographers showcase to raise money for costumes and props for next year's “The Nutcracker” performance.
She doubts that a full-length version can be staged a year from now but believes a one-hour show is a possibility.
“Every child has wanted to be Clara or the Snow Princess,” she said. “It will encourage people to take ballet.”
Petersen is hopeful that in five years a full-version of the famous ballet can be done.
The auditions would be open to the public, and may even eventually hire professionals for the principal dancers.
Once “The Nutcracker” starts sustaining itself, Petersen aims to step up the quality of dancers from Forest Grove by offering scholarships to ballet camps throughout the state and country.
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