Last year, in time for the holidays, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures released “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms,” based on “The Nutcracker” and “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” stories. As a dance family, this became an instant hit in our home. Disney and dancing together? My neurotic Disney kid(NDK) found this “amazing!” She read all of the books(check out her reviews) and enjoyed the movie. The simple fact that Misty Copeland was in this movie immediately set it apart from any other version of “The Nutcracker” she had experienced.
In anticipation of the upcoming Digital & Blu-Ray release of THE NUTCRACKER AND THE FOUR REALMS on January 29th, the Orlando Ballet Company in partnership with Walt Disney Home Entertainment held a photoshoot. We were invited to attend and interview the dancers. NDK was over the moon excited.
NDK was thrilled to interview two dancers, Nick and Isabella. Both dancers were so sweet to take the time to answer the questions she had. She was even asked to be in a photo with a few dancers in costume, taken by brilliant photographer, Michael Cairns(seriously – if you have not seen his work on Instagram, you must! @mcairnsphoto).
Nick Patterson
Inspired by a performance of The Nutcracker, Nick told his mom, a ballet dancer herself, that he wanted to dance. According to Nick, he was in classes the next day, working his way to attend the Boston Ballet! Performing professionally with the Orlando Ballet since 2015, his favorite performance to date was a show called “Fancy Free,” a “quintessential ballet for men to perform.” When asked if it was “hard work” to dance professionally, Nick said “It’s hard work. Yes, but it doesn’t feel like work. It’s my passion. It’s my artform. It’s hard work, but it doesn’t feel like work.”
Isabella Mendez
Isabella started dancing at the tender age of four. Following in her mother’s footsteps, she danced in her hometown of Torrington, CT. She eventually moved on to the Boston Ballet and joined the Orlando Ballet in 2015. Her favorite performance to date was the Orlando Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty. A huge Disney fan herself, Isabella played the role of Princess Aurora. Isabella loves dancing with the Orlando Ballet, “We’re all really close, as a family. We’re all really good friends.” Teamwork is important in this line of work, so the camaraderie is essential. Isabella shared her advice for younger dancers who want to make this dream come true:
The Orlando Ballet
The Orlando Ballet began as a small company in 1974 under a different name. The Orlando Ballet is the only fully residential performing ballet in Central Florida, with shows year-round at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. There are three main performances left of the 2018-19 season and two special performances. These shows are:
- BAILAMOS! February 15 @ 7:30 pm – February 17 @ 2:00 pm
- PETER & THE WOLF FAMILY WEEKEND March 30 @ 11:00 am – March 31 @ 2:00 pm
- ARCADIAN BROAD’S WONDERLAND: MAD TALES OF THE HATTER April 26 @ 7:30 pm – April 28 @ 2:00 pm
Special performances include:
- FAST FORWARD March 29 @ 7:30 pm
- LET’S FALL IN LOVE April 12 @ 7:30 pm *performed at The Garden Theater, Winter Garden
We would like to thank the Orlando Ballet for taking the time out of their day to speak with us, and to Michael Cairns for an incredible photo opportunity.
A Disney blooded, crafty, fun-lovin’ wife/mom/organizer/planner, etc who is obsessed with all things Disney 🙂 Maria grew up with the Magic Kingdom and has loved watching WDW evolve into what it is today. A firm believer in the Power of Pixie Dust, she is the owner of The Disney Driven Life – A Community for Neurotic Disney People & a d.i.y. crafty blog, Carousel of Projects – create~inspire~share.
