Plainfield teen lands lead role in Christian 'Nutcracker' ballet

The Herald News
By DENISE M
December 16, 2020 at 3:00 pm CST

Super surprised and happy.

That was the reaction from Alice Duncan, 16, of Plainfield, when she learned she would be playing the lead role in Ballet 5:8’s holiday production of “Beyond The Nutcracker.”

Or rather, Duncan would be playing one of the leads. Two other dancers would also be playing Emma, the “Clara” role in this Christianized version of “The Nutcracker.”

“It’s always been a dream of mine to have at least one solo,” Duncan said.

Live performances are sold out, but two livestreaming performances are available: 7 p.m. Wednesday and 3 p.m. Sunday. For tickets, call 708-329-8773.

Or purchase an online performance (Duncan is not Emma in this version) at ballet58.org/nutcracker.

In the original “Nutcracker” ballet, a young girl named Clara receives a special nutcracker from her uncle. She is heartbroken after the nutcracker breaks. While sleeping that night, she dreams of a battle between gingerbread soldiers and mice, with her nutcracker coming to life to defeat the mice.

The nutcracker turns into a handsome prince and leads Clara away to a beautiful land, where they will reign.

However, in "Beyond the Nutcracker," While fighting during World War II, Emma's Uncle Abram is saved by an angel. The uncle is eager to share with his family about God and the true meaning of Christmas, according to a 2017 Herald-News story.

After the family retires for the night, the angel takes Emma on a journey to meet Mary and Joseph. Since salvation is for all people, the dances include the cultural dances that are part of "The Nutcracker."

Duncan's teacher Brette Benedict said that, because of COVID-19 restrictions and the need for social distancing, Ballet 5:8 offered many more opportunities to see the ballet than in the past and decided to create three different casts for the shows.

“We didn’t want them to be exhausted by the end and not do all 24 shows,” Benedict, director of trainee and conservatory programs at Ballet 5:8 in Orland Park, said.

In addition, cast members rotated between shows. So a principal dancer in one show might play a small role in different performance, Benedict said. For instance, when Duncan isn’t Emma, she dances in a snow scene and in “Waltz of the Flowers.”

Benedict said Ballet 5:8 also ensured that the same dancers remained paired, so they did not touch other cast members. The result is that each show has slightly less dancers than in past shows but the dancers also learned several roles she added.

Duncan was especially astonished to land such a key role considering she had just joined Ballet 5:8 in August. But Benedict said Duncan had the skills that was needed for Emma: excellent core straight, strong point work and plenty of experience.

“We knew she’d be able to jump into the role quickly,” Benedict said.

Duncan said she began dancing at age 4 but it took a few years before she decided classical ballet was really her dance calling. Dancing was Duncan’s idea; her mother was hoping she’d become a gymnast, she said.

As a child, Duncan really didn’t understand why she was drawn to classical ballet.

“But now that I look back, I think it must have been the artistry,” Duncan said. “It’s so graceful and beautiful and you can tell stories through using your muscles and your body. It’s really a beautiful thing.”

Yet a great deal of work and stamina go into creating those graceful, beautiful performances. Physical fitness is important for dancers and emphasis is placed on developing strong core muscles, Duncan said.

Duncan takes classes every day except Sundays. She studies dance at Ballet 5:8 during the week and Plainfield Dance Academy, which Duncan has attended for years, on Saturdays.

She plans to continue dancing through college and hopes to make a career from dancing.

In addition to advancing her skills at Ballet 5:8, Duncan feels she’s learned something even more important than dance technique. And that’s how to develop a relationship with God.

Duncan said she’s always known about God. But knowing about God and knowing God are two different concepts, she said.

But at Ballet 5:8, Duncan has met many people whose lives are immersed with their love of God.

“It’s really opened a door for me,” Duncan said. “I love that because God and dance are two of my favorite things combined. It’s like chocolate and cake. “It’s so good.”